Work to restore church paintings

The paintings were found when the church was restored in the 1990s

Some of the oldest wall paintings in Britain are to go on display after a restoration project was carried out.

The 11th century paintings at St Mary's Church at Houghton-on-the-Hill in Norfolk show the image of God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost.

They were discovered in 1996 by accident when reconstruction taking place at the church exposed large areas of painting beneath the plaster.

The work will allow St Mary's to open regularly by the end of the year.

Almost £200,000 of Heritage Lottery funding was awarded for the scheme.

The work will is due to finish at the end of October and it is hoped that the chapel will be open to the public by the end of the year.