THE DIOCESE of Hereford saw its prayers answered after receiving more than half a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Eight churches in the area covered by the diocese – three in Herefordshire and five in Shropshire – will be given a total of £551,000 to spend on structural repairs and renovations to ensure they remain fit for future use.

St Tysilio’s Church at Sellack, near Ross-on-Wye, was given £75,000 towards repairs to the spire and tower while both St Peter’s Church in Pipe-cum-Lyde, near Hereford, and St Mary the Virgin Church in Middleton-on-the-Hill near Leominster, each received £63,000.

St Peter’s will spend some of this money on an overhaul of the nave and chancel roofs, while St Mary’s will be completely reroofed with the tower also repaired.

This work will be carried out over the next two to three years.