THERE will be celebrations in Powick this weekend to mark the completion of £24,000 improvements at the village church.

After several years of fund-raising and the help of several grants, St Peter's Church now has a new toilet and a kitchen.

The project gained impetus last year when the proceeds from the church fete brought the initial fund to £4,600.

Grants then came from the Awards for All Lottery fund, Lasletts Charities, the Eveson Trust, the parish council and the Severn Waste Environmental Fund. The Rank Foundation gave the final £1,000 needed to complete the project, which includes an environmentally friendly sewage disposal system.

"We are so grateful to local people and those charities for enabling this dream to be fulfilled," said church warden Terry Maple, of Callow End.

"No longer will those who attend church be forced to leave early due to a call of nature.

"The new kitchen also opens up a whole new dimension to the way in which the church can serve its congregation."

The toilet has been installed in the vestry and does not affect the appearance of the Grade I listed church, where a secret burial vault, featured in the Worcester News last week, was uncovered when pews were removed to make space for social gatherings.

At a special service at 11am on Sunday, the Bishop of Dudley, the Rt Rev David Walker, will dedicate the new facilities.

Parishioners are invited to go along and take part in the thanksgiving.