TWO decades of work to restore one of the Fylde's most prominent and unique churches to its former glory are set to be completed with the help of a lottery grant.

Fairhaven United Reformed Church, better known as the White Church, has received £212,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for work to renovate its tower

The work, expected to take much of this year, will complete 20 years of hard work to restore the Grade II* listed building, built in 1912.

"It's such a prominent building," said Rev David Phillips of the White Church: "Unfortunately, it gets battered by the weather and has suffered an awful lot over the years. We will now be able to finish the job.

"The church will look exactly as it did when it first opened in 1912."

Work includes repointing and waterproofing the tower and is expected to start shortly as the weather warms up. It will complement work which has already taken place to improve the main building.

And Rev Phillips reserved special praise for church-goers who had helped push forward the renovations: "They have worked their socks off over the last 20 years."

The grant is a share of £1.5 million in grants announced this week by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage for places of worship in the north west.

o An evening of song takes place at the White Church on March 12, starting at 7pm. The event features tenor, Roger Payne and soprano, Lucina Troy, conducted by Owen Robert. Admission is £5, including refreshments and tickets are available on the door or by calling 01253 730611.