Box Methodist Church is counting down the days to its grand reopening after three months of rebuilding work.

The church sold off its Sunday school building to pay for the work, which will include new disabled access facilities to fit in with current legislation.

Norman Haines MBE, 69, a long serving member of the church said: "It was a life and death situation. The church couldn't afford to keep going with two buildings and was unable to pay for the necessary work to fit in with legislation, so it had to sell one of them."

Renovation work, which will finish in time for the first service on October 13, cost £90,000 and was funded by selling the Sunday school building and donations from the parish.

Michael Rumsey, church property steward, said he hoped that the church would become a central part of the village.

He said: "It will be a user friendly building and will serve the community well. Not only will it be used for Sunday worship but the movable chairs will mean the building can also be used for educational and recreational groups during the week."

The reopening of the church will coincide with its 168th anniversary and the Reverend Dr John Emmett will lead the service.