THE church of St John the Baptist in Eastnor is among four Herefordshire churches no longer classed as “at risk”, following repair work.

James Hervey-Bathurst of Eastnor Castle is secretary of the parochial church council which looks after the church. He said its 13th-century Norman tower was what was deemed to be at risk.

This took up the first phase of restoration work, at a cost of about £70,000. Later phases will equip the church with a toilet and servery, and repair stained glass windows.

“The church is fortunate in that it gets quite a lot of use from the school up the road, and couples often choose to marry in the church then have the reception in Eastnor Castle,” Mr Hervey-Bathurst said.

Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust “was one of the first” to help raise funds, which were then match-funded by another charity, he said. The National Lottery has also chipped in for the work, which included replacing crumbling mortar and re-gilding the clock face and weather vane.

Other Herefordshire churches no longer considered at risk are St Andrew in Pixley, St Barnabas in Brampton Bryan and St Dubricius in Hentland.