OVER two years after plans were first laid out, work has finally started to restore the roof of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre in Bradford on Avon.

After an intense fundraising drive, contractors have moved in to start the £112,000 project on the roof and external stonework of the centre, next door to Christ Church.

The plans for the improvements of the former Victorian school building, which was listed in 1994, were first proposed in 2001, but various feasibility studies and contract plans meant the work has only just got under way.

Mount Pleasant Centre Council Chairman Mike Savage said: "We realised there was no point sorting out the inside of the hall, without sorting out the outside first. And, in time, we will look at the inside as well.

"The project is very weather dependent but, fingers crossed, it will be finished in 14 weeks."

The Mount Pleasant Centre has dominated the Bradford sky- line since it opened in 1845 as Christ Church School.

It was turned into a community centre in 1982, staffed entirely by volunteers and is used by the Brownies, Holt Morris Men and for dance classes, yoga groups and many other community events.

During the works, Mr Savage said all usual events will carry on as normal. He said: "There are a few problems with 150 year's worth of dust and spiders being shaken around in the roof, but we are all working around it."

The Heritage Lottery Fund has paid for 45 per cent of the project, as part of its commitment to preserving heritage buildings up and down the country.

Further local support came from the Bradford on Avon Historic Buildings Joint Committee.

Work on the roof will be managed by NVB Architects of Frome.