THREE Churches across Gwent are able to undertake much-needed repairs after being awarded more than £200,000 of Lottery money.

Pontypool churches St Cadoc's and Mount Pleasant, along with Llantrisant's Church of St Peter, Paul and John have been awarded £208,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

All three are Grade I or II listed.

The Church of St Peter, Paul and John was awarded £57,000 to repair stonework, drainage and the roof, which Rev Julian Gray says has not been replaced since Victorian times.

The Church dates back to the 15th century and was rebuilt in Elizabethan times.

Rev Gray said: "It's a huge boost because it’s a small community and they are very generous, but to have this money we can go ahead and do the roof and other repairs.

St Cadoc's was awarded £82,200 to develop the building, an initial grant of £9,00 has been given for the church to outline and develop its plans before the rest of the grant is paid and part of the money will be used to replace the floors in the bell chamber.

Mount Pleasant's £51,800 will help pay for repairs to the tower roof and parapet and it has also been awarded a piece of the total grant, £7,500, to outline its plans and secure partnership funding.

Rev Gray, who has been at the Llantrisant church for five years, said the roof repairs were urgent.

He added: "It means we can now go forward confidently. It's incredible, a really good feeling."