Great Yarmouth church roof repairs allow mural to be restored

Work needs to be carried out on The Shrine of Our Lady of Arneburgh inside the church

Completed church roof repairs have been described as a "blessing from God", as it means the restoration of a 100-year-old mural can also be carried out.

The image of the Virgin Mary at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was nearly destroyed in a storm about five years ago.

The roof leaked and water cascaded down the inside wall, damaging the artwork.

Father Anthony Nwanko said anything inside the church would now "be secure" for the future.

The walls of the church are still damp following the storm

A new roof now adorns the building on the Norfolk coast

More than £700,000 was amassed from roof repair grants from the government, Historic England and fundraising by the congregation.

About £4,000 was raised from an appeal to sponsor a tile with an inscription, which was supported by both Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis and Prime Minister Boris Johnson - who both have tiles on the roof.

Father Anthony Nwanko said all the repairs had "cost a lot"

Speaking of the repairs, Father Anthony said: "It means a lot. It means hope, it means love, it means unity and it means blessings from God, which he has given to us through Historic England, and we are very glad about this.

"With the completion of the work, the fear of water coming into the church is now taken away and we can now sleep with our two eyes closed, but we still have a lot to do inside.

"But we are now sure that anything inside the church will be secure."

The roof had been leaking for years, but the storm damage made it worse and ruined the painting of The Shrine of Our Lady of Arneburgh.

Chairman of the church's finance committee, Brian Lafferty, said the wall still needed to dry out before work could begin.

Brian Lafferty said seeing the damage to the roof several years ago was "horrific"

"It's going to be at least two years. They've tested the wall and there is still a sign of dampness in there," he said.

"It's not a lot but there are all sorts of salts and things in it and they've got to let all that come out naturally."