ONCE majestic stone monuments lying in the graveyard of a redundant Herefordshire church could soon be returned to their former glory.

Two ornate tomb-chests at St Cuthbert's, Holme Lacy, are in urgent need of repair after the roots of a nearby tree disturbed their foundations.

Under plans announced by the Churches Conservation Trust, to which the church was vested in 1994, the Grade II listed monuments will be dismantled to allow new reinforced foundations to be laid.

The tombs will then be carefully rebuilt, as will the railings that surround them.

The highly skilled work, which will be overseen by an archaeological expert, will get underway once Herefordshire Council has given its blessing to the project.

One of the tombs is the final resting place of an Elizabeth Smith-Edwards, who died in 1827, the inscription on the other has been worn away over the years and is illegible.

St Cuthbert's Church, which is tucked away in a picturesque but isolated spot by the River Wye, was built during the 13th and 14th centuries although it includes many later additions.

In spite of its redundant status, people still flock to the church every year to see some of the spectacular monuments held within.

The finest are those belonging to the Scudamore family including that of John Scudamore and his wife, which dates from around 1570, depicting two alabaster effigies on a tomb-chest carved with shields and angels.

The Churches Conservation Trust is interested in hearing from anyone who can shed any light on the soon-to-be-repaired monuments. Anyone with information can contact the Trust on 020 7936 2285.