A CANON at Newport's St Woolos Cathedral says local support for the major restoration of the building is "fantastic".

We reported that the cathedral in Stow Hill needs repairs, costing around £3 million, to the roof and outer walls.

A rescue appeal committee is to be set up and it will launch a huge fundraising effort in July to help raise the cash.

The Reverend Mark Soady said he was "pleasantly surprised" by the number of businesses and individuals offering their help following our article.

Mr Soady, 45, said: "We were very pleased by the response from the article. It's been fantastic.

"We've had people asking us if there's anything they can do.

"We feel the whole of the community is behind us on this."

A routine inspection of the cathedral, parts of which are nearly 1,000 years old, found urgent repairs are needed to the oak trusses in the roof and the flaking outer walls. The clay roof tiles also need replacing.

It is estimated the appeal committee will need to raise around £1.5 million themselves before they can apply for match funding from the Heritage Lottery Funding and CADW, the body which helps preserve historic monuments in Wales.

A detailed inspection of the cathedral by Cardiff firm Davies Sutton Architects is due to begin today.

This should finish in early March when plans will be drawn up showing how the repairs will be carried out.

Architect Michael Davies is hoping work to the roof will start around the middle of 2007.

Local shops and community groups have written to the clergy at the cathedral offering to help raise cash for the restoration.

Youth group The Girls Brigade, which meets in the cathedral hall, is to collect coins to make a circle around the outside of the cathedral.