THE regeneration of historic 800-year-old church ruins in Hopton is set to begin in earnest next week with the launch of the project by Great Yarmouth mayor Tony Smith.

THE regeneration of historic 800-year-old church ruins in Hopton is set to begin in earnest next week with the launch of the project by Great Yarmouth mayor Tony Smith.

A number of dignitaries as well as local clergyman Canon Brian Whisen, who is standing in for the holidaying Rev Roger Key, and Darren Barker, the borough council's conservation officer, will be present at the launch of the “Save Our Stones” regeneration of St Margaret's Church ruins in Coast Road on Monday .

Former borough councillor Brian Howard, who sits on Hopton Parish Council's special sub-committee looking after the project, said �300,000 was needed to carry out plans to create community facilities among the ruins including a new “Olde Worlde” coffee shop, a community centre and an area where artists can exhibit their work.

However, so far only �62 has been raised towards the new facilities through an appeal on the website www.oldstmargarets.com.

A number of fundraising events are in the pipeline including a medieval fayre and the sub-committee will be sending letters to businesses to see if they would be willing to sponsor the scheme.

Hopton Parish Council bought the ruins for �1 from the Church of England in May.

The borough council's conservation section took responsibility for the legal work involved with the project.

Mr Howard added: “We have not really been able to do anything on the fundraising side until the parish council had actually bought the site. Before then, it did not belong to us, but now that it does we will be looking to raise money in earnest.”