DEVIZES Town Council agreed on Tuesday to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for money towards a restoration project for the town's fountain and Market Cross.

The town council says the two historic monuments, in the Market Place, are deteriorating rapidly.

The council is to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £48,000. The cost of restoring both monuments is £130,167 and the council has earmarked £82,167 towards the scheme.

The fountain's stonework is crumbling, the bowl leaks and at the beginning of the winter the town council decommissioned it due to concerns over the effects of water damage and leakage.

The paving around the Market Cross has crumbled to such an extent that there are increasing concerns about its safety and further deterioration would result in the monument being fenced off.

The restoration project would also involve creating an education/activity pack to improve the awareness of the heritage of both monuments.

The council would also like to celebrate the completion of the project by holding an opening ceremony to mirror that of the one held for the fountain's opening in 1879 when some 2,000 people attended.