Tewkesbury Abbey's roof restored

The roof repairs are part of a £2m restoration programme

Tewkesbury Abbey has held a topping out service to celebrate the completion of urgent repairs on the tower roof.

The protection of roof timbers from water penetration is the first major project in a £2m works programme.

The funding of £325,000 was provided by the Friends of Tewkesbury Abbey, George Cadbury Trust and individual donations.

Abbey Steward David Lees said: "This has been a most necessary project as it is essential to protect the tower from water damage."

And Chairman of the Restoration Campaign, Carolyn Elwes, added: "We may not all have a head for heights, but nothing will deter us from celebrating the occasion with a service on the roof conducted by the vicar."

The Reverend Canon Paul Williams said the next project would be improving the main path from the Abbey gates to the north porch where all the stones would be lifted, re-cut, levelled and then re-laid.

Other projects include the £600,000 restoration of the central tower and the re-pointing of the north transept at a cost of £275,000.

The Medieval Quire's upper most windows also need fitting with iso-thermal glazing to protect them from moisture and condensation at a cost of £150,000.

A total of £746,310 has been raised so far.