A church which was forced to close due to emergency ceiling repairs has been reopened.

St Michael’s Church in Winterbourne Steepleton held its first service of the year on Sunday July 8.

The congregation gathered in numbers to celebrate the occasion with around fifty people attending.

The Vicar of The Parish of the Winterbournes, the Reverend Jean Saddington, said: "It was a great team effort, with support from both within the church and the local community".

The church is one of few remaining Dorset churches to retain an original west gallery, and enjoys a long musical tradition, hosting its own resident music group as well as visiting choirs and ensembles.

To mark the momentous occasion the Steepleton Music Group gave a stunning performance during the service.

The church was forced to close its doors when a section of the old lathe and plaster ceiling began to crumble last October, and services were moved to the neighbouring village of Martinstown.

Following consultation with the church architect, applications were submitted to the Dorset Historic Churches Trust and Erskine Muton Trust.

The applications were accepted, and subsequent grants have meant that vital repairs have been able to take place at the church to fix the ceiling.

A thanksgiving service will take place on the Patronal Festival of St Michael which will take place on September 30. At the service will be representatives from the Dorset Historic Churches Trust and the Erskine Muton Trust.