A GRANT of £3,000 has been awarded to a Barrow church though the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The donation will go towards all work associated with the bell tower at St James the Great in Barrow and will help extend a handrail to the ringing room so visitors reach the viewing gallery in the old belfry.

An eight bell simulator will provide a training facility for people of all ages to learn the skills involved without disturbing neighbouring residents.

Tower captain Andy Pollock said: "We are thrilled to have received support thanks to National Lottery players and look forward to welcoming members of the public to see and learn about these fantastic bells in Barrow, and offer better facilities for people across the Furness area to learn and preserve this amazing skill for generations to come."

The grant will also be used to emphasise the historic and social heritage of the building by creating a 70 page photobook, describing the bell restoration project.

Open days will take place later this year and an open invitation has been extended to the community to come and learn to ring bells as part of a government backed campaign to recruit 1400 new ringers nationwide, in time to learn to ring for the centenary of Armistice day in November.

For more information about the Ringing Remembers project, visit www.a100.cccbr.org.uk or contact Andy Pollock on 07879 411824 during evenings or weekend.

For more general information, visit www.barrowbells.org.uk