A PROJECT to restore a pair of unique turbines which once powered a Bishopstoke mill has moved a step forward - thanks to the Daily Echo and willing volunteers.

Last month Bishopstoke Parish Council announced it was spearheading a fresh attempt to get the Armfield turbines - believed to be the only ones of their type still surviving in the UK - back in working order.

At present the historically valuable machinery is housed in a dilapidated corrugated iron building above the River Itchen on the corner of Riverside and Bishopstoke Road.

Plans to display the restored turbines in a new building at the site, owned by Eastleigh Council, floundered four years ago when a borough bid for cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund failed. But the parish council said that such was the interest in the project locally that it had decided to resurrect the scheme.

Now, parish clerk Peter Storey has volunteered to head up the project and has already been promised help following Daily Echo publicity about the scheme.

He said: "I would volunteer my services to co-ordinate the activities of the growing numbers of people and organisations who have expressed an interest in the project. The Hampshire Mills Group has come forward and a local painter and decorator has also offered his services."

No accurate cost has been put on the scheme to restore the turbines. which were manufactured in Ringwood and ceased working when the old mill was demolished in the 1960s. But it is thought to exceed £40,000.