THE final stone has been replaced in the East End of York Minster, as the huge 12-year restoration project nears an end.

Around 2,500 stones have been cut and put in place by the Minster's stoneyard team over the past five years alone, as part of the £20 million York Minster Revealed work, and the final one was fitted on Friday.

The restored glass panels in the world-famous Great East Window are still being installed.

York Press:

The York Minster Revealed team prepare to fit the final stone, in front of the re-revealed East End. Picture: Duncan Lomax

Rebecca Thompson, Chapter Steward at the Minster, said: “This has been one of the largest conservation and restoration projects ever undertaken at the Minster.

"It has provided a unique opportunity to understand 800 years of wear and tear on the building, analyse past repair work and the materials used and to deploy the most up-to-date restoration and conservation technology alongside traditional stone and glass techniques. Every step of the work has been recorded and documented to share with colleagues and interested parties not just in the UK but internationally.

“But most of all I am delighted that we can at last return this magnificent face of the Minster to the City of York and to the many visitors who come to experience this wonderful building.”

A Minster spokeswoman said: "Over the last six weeks, the more than 16 miles of scaffolding which has covered the Minster’s East End for nearly 12 years has been gradually removed, to reveal pristine, newly restored exterior stonework and the restored tracery containing state-of-the art UV glazing panels which will protect the final restored stained glass panels due to be reinstalled in 2018."

The project is restoring the whole East End of the Minster, including the Great East Window, which is the country's largest single area of medieval stained glass. The project is due for completion in March.

Of the £20 million, £10.5 million came from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The remainder was raised by the Minster.