A city church has undergone more than �80,000 worth of work to repair and improve the place of worship.

During the past few months Christ Church, in Eaton, has had work done to the south part of the church and in its children's areas in the north of the building.

The Rev Patrick Richmond, vicar of Christ Church, said 'We're delighted to have completed these repairs and improvements and now face the winter cold, dark and rain with warmth, light and hope.

'We gave thanks to God at our harvest festival on Sunday and I'd like to thank the many people who have made this possible.

'We've been able to finance these works from the donations of so many in the past, but more fundraising is a priority if we are to maintain and improve this beautiful building for the future.'

The project on the 19th century building was completed in two parts. Work in the south of the church began in June and involved repairing and upgrading the roofing and the drainage system. New stained glass windows were also installed in the vestry, flint work on the church walls was repointed and buttresses were repaired.

The work was scheduled to be finished by the middle of July but was delayed by a couple of weeks after newly installed lead was stolen from the vestry roof in the same month causing an estimated �2,000 worth of damage.

The project to improve the children's areas of the church - a suite of three rooms and a toilet - began in July and finishing touches are now being completed.

Some of the work included putting in new windows, opening up a stained glass window, installing a new roof, floor, carpets and insulation, and putting in a sink and a new toilet.

Whitworth Co-Partnership LLP oversaw the work in the south of the church and Reynolds Jury Architecture oversaw the work in the north of the church.

Dr Richmond said the church hoped to do more improvement work in the future - including installing disabled toilets and catering facilities.

t Anybody who would like to donate funds to the church should visit www.eatonparish.com or write to Parishes Office, 41 Church Lane, Norwich, NR4 6NW.