BRITAIN'S best-known female television reporter Kate Adie is to launch the fundraising campaign for Malmesbury Abbey's £2m extension.

Famous for her reports from the front line in war zones throughout the world, Miss Adie will start the national appeal at a ceremony at the abbey on July 7 at 6pm.

David Barton, of the abbey restoration scheme committee, said it was a privilege to have a high-profile name launching the campaign.

He said: "We are delighted to have Kate Adie. It will give us a real start towards our objective of raising more than £2m."

Miss Adie's early broadcast career was on BBC Radio Bristol working on farming and arts programmes.

Mr Barton said Miss Adie had links to the area and a friend had invited her to launch the campaign.

No time schedule had been put in place to raise the money, said Mr Barton, but it is hoped the building will be in use in the three or four years.

Plans to build a three-storey extension to the west of the abbey were revealed last October.

Architect Ptolemy Dean of TV's Restoration fame has been commissioned to design the extension, which will be built on the site of the former West Tower.

The parochial church council decided the extension was needed to carry out the parish's existing work on one site. The abbey also needed to be compliant with disability access requirements.

The top floor will have public space to seat 80 people. The abbey and vicar's offices plus a meeting room and a child friendly toilet will be on the first floor.

A bookshop, its office and kitchen, with a passageway to the courtyard will be on the ground floor.