THE Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust has awarded more than £50,000 in grants and loans for vital repairs to 16 religious buildings in the county.

The largest pay out in this latest round of funding goes to St Peter's Church at Birley. The parish has received a £5,000 grant, alongside a loan of £5,000, to help with re-roofing and repairs to stonework.

Elsewhere, St Andrew's, Allensmore, is to get £4,000 for new drains and guttering while the church at Ashperton has also received £4,000 for the overhaul of roofs and guttering.

Churches at Bredwardine, Eardisley and Eardisland will each be awarded £2,000 grants for various renovation works.

Repairs to the clock turret at Croft Church will be made possible thanks to a grant of £2,500 and a loan of £5,000.

The Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust has also made awards to the following churches: St Mary's Walterstone, £2,500 grant and £5,000 loan for the provision of drainage; St Michael's, Marstow, £2,500 grant for repairs to the bell-turret.

St Luke's, Stoke Prior, £2,500 grant fore repairs to the roof and walls of the tower; the Church of Holy Trinity and St Mary, Abbeydore, £1,000 grant towards stabilisation of the walls of the sacristy and chapter house.

St Michael and All Angels, Moccas, £1,000 grant for further repairs to copings; St Dubricius, Whitchurch, £1,000 grant for the provision of flood doors and repairs to roof timbers; Whitney-on-Wye church, £3,500 loan.