Three Somerset churches get lottery grants for repairs

Three churches in Somerset have been saved from closure after receiving heritage lottery grants for vital building repairs.

More than £180,000 has been awarded to Holy Trinity church in Cleeve, St Peter and St Paul in Wincanton and St Andrew's church in Aller.

The three churches are all situated in the diocese of Bath and Wells.

The money is from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the English Heritage Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme.

Ross Symonds from English Heritage said: "On the one hand we're providing cash but we're also providing technical expertise in the form of architects and surveyors.

"These buildings are kind of unique - they weren't built to a pattern or anything.

"Many are up to two, three, four, five, six hundred years old and need considerable expertise."

Holy Trinity church was awarded £42,000, St Peter and St Paul church will receive £52,000 and St Andrew's church was awarded £92,000.