HIGHCLIFFE Castle has received a grant of £70,000 from the Country Houses Foundation towards the repair and restoration of part of the castle.

The money will go towards the renovation of the East Wing, part of the Phoenix Files Project.

And residents and businesses are being asked for contributions as well to support the transformation.

The Country Houses Foundation is a charitable grant-giving foundation which was set up in 2005, to support the preservation of buildings of historic or architectural significance together with their gardens and grounds, for the public benefit.

A grant of £2.82million has already been given to the project from the Heritage Lottery.

Funds will be put towards the restoration of the interior of the East Wing, the creation of a new heritage centre, a stained glass restoration workshop and an archive and reading room.

It will also include the return of some of the Marshal Ney furniture currently in the V&A Museum along with improvements to access and the interpretation of the grounds.

Cllr Ray Nottage, leader of Christchurch Borough Council, said: “We are very grateful to the Country Houses Foundation for this substantial grant.

"This will help enormously towards the final total we need to complete the project.

"Grants of this magnitude are very difficult to secure so our thanks should go to the Highcliffe Castle team for making such a compelling case to the Foundation.

"However we still need to raise further funds to make sure all elements of the Phoenix Flies Project can be completed successfully.

"We would like to hear from local residents and businesses who feel they would like to contribute to this worthwhile project to bring even more of the Castle back into use for residents and visitors."

Anyone wishing to contribute to the further restoration of Highcliffe Castle can contact the Castle on 01425 278807, email phoenixfund@highcliffecastle.co.uk or go to highcliffecastle.co.uk/phoenixfund.