ALMOST £10 million in Lottery cash has been secured to help fund a huge restoration project at York's most famous landmark.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has today confirmed it will provide the £9.7 million grant for the York Minster Revealed scheme, which aims to return the cathedral's historic East Window to its former glory and improve its visitor facilities.

It ends an anxious wait for the project team, which withdrew its original application for Lottery funding in 2008 after admitting the bid was not good enough and discovered earlier this year that an anticipated £1 million Yorkshire Forward grant had been lost amid Government spending cuts.

As well as restoring glass and stone at the East Front of the Minster, the £19 million scheme includes a new piazza entrance to the South Transept, improved disabled access, displays using digital and computer-generated imagery, and a glass-fronted lift in the Undercroft.

“The grant will enable us to restore one of this country's most important works of art, the East Window,” said the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones.

“At the same time, it will help us welcome visitors to the Minster with much improved facilities, so their visit will be all the more rewarding. This is one of the country's most loved places, and this enables us to make it known and enjoyed by many more people.

“It is very exciting and the coming years of work will be well worth it.”

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, described the news as “wonderful”, saying: “The East Window is a beautiful and historic work of art which brings joy to so many people, worshippers, visitors and York residents alike.

“I look forward to seeing the window restored to its former glory.”

* For the full story, see The Press on Monday.