THE biggest Winchester parish church restoration project in years has reached a significant milestone.

Builders are removing scaffolding and protective sheeting that has enswathed St John's Church for nearly a year after the medieval building received a new roof.

Although a replacement roof is nearing completion, the £700,000 project is in fact only halfway there.

Now builders are turning their efforts to the second phase, which includes new flooring, a new vestry, and opening up the closed north door for a new disabled access.

Christine Smith, churchwarden, said: "Fortunately Bob Wilson, the builder, included in the price the removal of the old roof.

"The workmen found 800 years' worth of old rubbish dumped up there. There was five skip loads of rubble. The weight was forcing the wall down the hill."

The scheme was also delayed by the discovery of the remnants of medieval wall painting, which archaeologists want time to study.

Parishioners are now looking forward to the project's completion later this year. Mrs Smith said: "This is the oldest parish church in Winchester and we are preserving it not for ourselves but for the future."

It is hoped that the building will be opened to the public as part of the English Heritage open weekend in September.

The parochial church council is planning a street party to thank the residents of St John's Street for their patience during the disruption.

As the Daily Echo reported last year, local people have enjoyed the building as it means the street, a local rat-run, has been closed to through traffic. Many hope the closure can be made permanent.

Mrs Smith added: "The space inside the church will in future be more flexible, as the pews have been removed.

"We will have a wonderful open space. It could be used for workshops or exhibitions. We are hoping choirs or orchestras will want to use it as a rehearsal space."