A CLOSED church will be open once more following restoration work and will also include a cafe and an artisan bakery.

A project at Brampton Abbotts church, near Ross-on-Wye, can now begin, thanks to a confirmed grant of £215,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The grant will address the major repairs needed to the tower, the roofs, rainwater goods, stonework, the porch, several windows, internal walls and ceilings, and electrics.

St Michael's closed some 10 years ago when the scope of repairs required were beyond the capacity of the local community.

The vital repairs are the first phase of a community regeneration project, known locally as The Daily Bread, which seeks to provide this heritage building with a sustainable future.

Following the repairs St Michael’s will be converted in to an artisan bakery, together with a café and community facilities for all, and worship a minimum of six times a year.

A partnership has formed between the Diocese of Hereford and BAcRG, a local Community Interest Company set up to take forward the preservation and regeneration of the building.

As part of the funding, made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, there will be opportunities for local people to learn more about the history of the building.

Wendy Coombey, community partnership and funding officer for the Diocese of Hereford, said: "Projects like Brampton Abbotts give new life and hope for some of our most ancient churches, and there is no reason why the learning from this project couldn’t be transferred to an open church."