Group tour of Liverpool bombed out church restoration

About 40 people visited the site of St Luke's on Thursday

A group of lucky winners have been given a guided tour of restoration work going on at Liverpool's bombed out church.

St Luke's Church is undergoing a £150,000 renovation which will see it better able to host artistic events.

The church and its gardens, on the corner of Berry Street and Leece Street, have been closed since October for structural works to take place.

About 40 people were given a tour of the interior on Thursday.

More than 1,000 people applied for tickets last December.

St Luke's, which looks down Bold Street, was badly damaged during the blitz in 1941, when a bomb destroyed its roof and the area between the aisles and the nave.

The church remained in its bombed out state in memorial to those who died in war.

Kim Rawlinson was one of 1,000 people who applied for a ticket

One of those who attended the tour was Kim Rawlinson from Wallasey, who is a Blue Badge Guide and a RIBA guide in Liverpool.

"I'm a tour guide in the city so we always have to have a watching brief on what's going on," she said.

"Everyone has an interest in what goes on here, it is such an iconic building and always something visitors are interested in."

Ben Huthwaite, 38, from Liverpool, said: "I've never been and wanted to have a look inside. It's something I've always wanted to find out more about."

Structural work is taking place during the first phase of the restoration

A recent consultation about what to do with the church received 6,300 responses and many wanted to see it used for events involving live music, art and film.

The council - who will retain freehold of the site - will begin looking for a suitable operator from next month.

The church is undergoing the first phase of the restoration, which includes pointing, masonry work and structural repairs.

The second phase of the work will see a roof put on to the church tower to protect the inside from the elements, and decorative stonework will be restored.

The project is being funded by Liverpool City Council and Historic England.