A DELICATE project to spruce up a historic Great Witley Church stone sculpture has got underway.

Conservationists have begun the operation, which will last almost two months, to clean and polish what is believed to be the tallest funerary monument in the country.

Church officials said centuries of fumes have resulted in the need for the work. As well cleaning the monument, lettering will also be restored.

The huge grey marble sarcophagus, situated on a plinth, stands at over eight metres high and is a memorial to the First Lord Foley Thomas, his wife Mary and five of their seven children.

It was constructed in 1737 by 17th century Belgian sculptor Michael Rysbrack who also carved the monuments to the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace and Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey.

A spokesman for the church said: “Nearly 300 years of candle and oil fumes have led to the monument acquiring a very grubby appearance.

“This now needs careful cleaning by conservationists to remove the years of grime and restore it to its true glory.

“Scaffolding has been erected to the full height of the monument to allow access to all parts.

“The team from Mareva Conservation, led by Veronika Vlkova, began their task on April 24 and it is expected that the work will take seven weeks to complete, first removing all the dirt before restoring the lettering and polishing the whole edifice.”