A £250,000 revamp is about to get under way transforming Studley Methodist Church.

The cash, which took two years to raise thank to the efforts of dedicated church members, will be used to make the church accessible to all.

The building will be transformed, with the steep front steps being replaced with a street-level porch, leading to a new floor at the same level inside the building.

New stairs will lead to a worship area on the top floor and the hall below and a platform lift will provide access for wheel-chairs, pushchairs and the less able.

A new accessible toilet and kitchenette will also be added to make the top floor independent.

Finally, the existing kitchen serving the hall will be enlarged and re-equipped to modern hygiene standards.

A spokesman from the church said: “We want to make the building more welcoming and useful to our local community. The kitchen will be wheel-chair friendly, so that MENCAP and others can use it to teach cookery.

"We will also be properly equipped to provide a café service to the public.”

While the work is taking place, set to take six months, the Studley distribution centre for the Arden Foodbank will be moving to the Baptist Church in New Road.

The church congregation will be holding their Sunday Services at Astwood Bank Methodist Church in High Street, Astwood Bank at 10.45am.