LOTTERY funds have been awarded to provide greater comfort for users of St Mary's Church at Throwleigh for services and other functions in the ancient building.

The parochial church council has been awarded £9,200 by the Big Lottery Fund's Awards for All programme.?The money will be used to install toilet facilities outside the 15th century church building.

Dave Hatton, fundraiser for the PCC, said: 'Back in 2008, local people overwhelmingly agreed that they wanted the church kept open in the face of falling congregation numbers, and also came up with ideas on other ways the building could be used in addition to its role as a place of worship.

'One of the most popular suggestions was that the building could be used as a venue for community events and concerts.

'In September last year, we held an inaugural concert, which was a sell-out, and highlighted that the building was perfect for this sort of event. However, it also highlighted the problem of the lack of toilet facilities in the building.'

The new toilet facilities will be built within the walls of the former boiler house outside the church, which will be sympathetically renovated to fit in with the ancient church.

Full planning permission for the project has been granted, with approval by English Heritage and the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Additional money for the project has been raised by various events held by the Friends of St Mary's Church, and the PCC has also applied for funding from Devon Renaissance regeneration funding, although the outcome of that application is unknown at present.

Construction of the new facilities will begin within months, and the facilities will be open during the day for use by walkers and cyclists on the historic Mariners Way footpath and Dartmoor Way cycle path.