A BID to restore Lydiard Park to its former glory has been kick-started by a £70,000 donation.

West Swindon-based Innogy, formerly National Power, has provided the full amount of corporate sponsorship needed to begin detailed feasibility work on the £5.5 million restoration scheme.

The donation was revealed at last night's cabinet meeting, as councillors gave the go-ahead for consultation to take place with the town's residents on the proposals.

The council is hoping to turn the park into a major regional tourist attraction with the help of £3.8 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project would involve restoring features like an 18th-century vegetable garden and a dammed lake which collapsed in 1911.

There are also plans to create a tearoom, classroom and public toilets in the 18th-century stable block and undertake extensive landscaping and conservation throughout the park.

Other aspects of the bid include the recreation of "home circuit", an attractive footpath approach to the house, and the creation of family cycle route.

The council is proposing to apply for £390,000 of funding from the Lottery to enable stage one of the bidding process to get underway.

Added to £70,000 from the council coffers and the all-important £70,000 donation from Innogy, the money would enable a year-long feasibility study to begin.

This would include archaeological investigations and drawing up a detailed and costed second Lottery bid.

The stage two bid would be for about £3.8 million, which would be added to by £750,000 from the council and £500,000 from businesses.

Similar schemes at Cusworth Park, Doncaster, and Hylands Park, Chelmsford, have already received Lottery backing.

Lydiard Park is a stately home with grounds on the edge of West Swindon, which was acquired by Swindon Council for £4,500 in 1943 by visionary town clerk David Murray John. It was restored and opened to the public in 1955.

The house and gardens date to the 16th century but the existing Georgian modelling of the house dates from 1743. Around 250,000 people visit a year.

Conservative leader Mike Bawden (Old Town and Lawn) said last night: "I'm absolutely delighted with this scheme and I hope we will be writing to Innogy to thank them for this very, very generous donation."

Consultation will now take place with the public about the details of the scheme, before the stage one bid is submitted.

Once the feasibility phase of the project is complete, a further report will be brought back to the cabinet to decide if it will press ahead with stage two.