Delapre Abbey wins lottery grant to help refurbishment

Plans for the Abbey are expected to be drawn up within six to nine months

Restoration specialists are set to help draw up plans to refurbish part of a tourist attraction in Northamptonshire.

Delapre Abbey, which boasts walled gardens, parklands and a tea room, is set for a £15m makeover.

Officials from Northampton Borough Council have been given about £250,000 of lottery cash to develop a refurbishment scheme.

The council will use the money to bring in restoration specialists to help with designs for the abbey.

Any project is likely to focus on bringing parts of the South and East wings of Delapre back into use and turning the 19th Century stable yard into small business units.