HEAVY machinery has started to move into the churchyard at Newnham-on-Severn as work begins on restoring and stabilising the church tower.
The programme of work, which has started almost a year since an appeal was launched to save the building, has been drawn up by church architects Stainburn Taylor, of Ledbury.
During the last twelve months the appeal has raised more than three quarters of the £80,000 it is estimated the restoration will cost.
"The church tower is Newnham's best known land mark and it's clear that everyone was determined to safeguard its future," said restoration committee chairman Andy Vivian.
"I take my hat off to the many people of this village who have worked so tirelessly and given so generously to the appeal."
The work has become necessary because the tower, the oldest part of the church, is badly eroded and showing signs of structural movement.
"Our first task is to stabilise the ground around the tower which has become soggy because old soakaway drainage was ineffective," says the vicar, the Rev John Seaman.
"Tree roots have also undermined the structure and the consultants have advised us to remove four limes next to the west wall."
The first phase will last until Easter, by which time the restoration committee hopes to have funds to seek tenders for structural work to the tower walls.