Preston cenotaph to get almost £1m facelift

An artist impression of how Preston cenotaph will look

Preston's cenotaph is to get an almost £1m renovation after a successful bid for Heritage Lottery Funding.

Work on the project will begin in the new year and the revamp is expected to be finished in time for next year's Remembrance Sunday service.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery's Emma Heselwood said the monument will be restored to the original design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

It will also include an inscription to fallen service personnel since 1945.

A programme of events, exhibitions and tours is also planned around the project called Preston Remembers as part of centenary celebrations in 2014 of the start of World War I.

Ms Heselwood said: "It's going back to the original design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and his idea that the cenotaph was really part of the market square and making it much more open and more accessible to wheelchair users."

Preston City Council worked on the bid with partners Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Museum of Lancashire, Lancashire Infantry Museum and Ribble Steam Railway for two years.

A total of £835,600 was secured from Heritage Lottery Funding with the additional £123,400 for the project called Preston Remembers funded by Preston City Council and partners.