CLEARWELL'S iconic Victorian St Peter's church next door to wedding venue Clearwell Castle has landed some vital funding from English Heritage.

Some £23,000 has been offered towards investigations into the integrity of the steeple and drainage system and a further £166,000 towards the replacement of the roof.

Officials are hopeful the first stage of this work should be completed by the end of the year.

"Depending on the outcome of the investigations we can start works to restore the beautiful internal decorations when the new roof is in place next year," said a spokesman.

The works will need extra funding which the church council is currently seeking. They are also interested in local support from the community and will be launching an appeal fund at a coffee morning in the Memorial Hall, Clearwell, on Saturday March 6 (10am). The church marries about 30 couples a year who afterwards hold their reception next door at the Castle.