A POOLE church is celebrating a £50,000 funding boost for essential roof repairs.

Canford Magna Parish Church has received the financial support from SUEZ Communities Trust, formerly SITA Trust, for the project.

The funding will allow the parochial church council (PCC) to re-roof the north slope of the vestry and chancel.

The work will re-use tiles where possible and minor roof repairs to other areas of the roof are also planned.

Revd Canon Chris Tebbutt, the rector of Canford Magna Parish Church, said: "The parish church is the oldest working building in Poole and has stood on this site more than 1,000 years, since Saxon times.

"Countless generations of local people have celebrated in their special life events, such as baptisms, weddings and funerals.

"As well as regularly using the building on Fridays for bell-ringing and on Sundays for worship, our local schools also visit regularly for education, chapel and confirmation services.

"This generous funding from SUEZ Communities Trust will ensure an important community space continues to be enjoyed for generations to come."

Marek Gordon, chairman of SUEZ Communities Trust said: "SUEZ Communities Trust provides funding awards through the landfill communities fund.

"This important source of funding has been available since 1997 and has provided such worthy projects with more than £1.4 billion. We were delighted to be able to offer funding to Canford Magna PCC."