SUPPORTERS of a Kates Hill church have finally got the keys to the historic building they have been fighting to save for nine years.

A jubilant St John's Church Preservation Group are now the leaseholders for the grade II listed St John's Church.

The lease was completed on July 27 - exactly 176 years since the church was opened - and the group are now in a position to start restoring the building, which has been closed to the public since November 2002.

Preservation group chairman, Deb Brownlee, said: "I'm sure in the future this little blip of the church being closed for 14 years will be forgotten. Our task now is not just to make the building physically useable but also make it so well used and loved that it will never fall into danger again."

A ceremonial key handover by the Archdeacon of Dudley will take place at 3pm on August 17 and afterwards, the group hopes to be able to show people around the church so they can see it in its current state.

Mrs Brownlee continued: "We want to invite the public to join us on the journey of taking St John's from the inevitable poor condition it is in now, back to it's former glory.

"We will encourage people to take photographs and film, and work with us step by step to clean, repair and restore this wonderful building."

Insurance for the building has cost the group a staggering £9,500 and Mrs Brownlee has issued an urgent appeal for donations to help build the funds back up.

In addition to financial support, the group is also looking for volunteers to pledge two hours a month to help with the restoration.

Donations can be sent to St John's Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John's Road, Kates Hill, Dudley, DY2 7JT.

The group can also be contacted by emailing savestjohnschurch@hotmail.co.uk or calling 07871195042.