A TREASURED piece of art hanging in All Saints Church in Thelwall has been restored to its former glory.

The Eric Gill Triptych, an artwork that describes Edward the Elder's association with the village more than 1,000 years ago, is almost 100 years old and has had the crucial £3,000 plus repair job to save the precious piece.

The large wall hanging was made to celebrate Edward VII's coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1907 and describes how Edward the Elder, who reigned from 901 until 925, built the former fortress and village of Thelwall.

A triptych is a set of three paintings that are often joined in a way that allows the two outer ones to fold in towards the larger central one. Eric Gill, 1882-1940, was a famous English sculptor, sign painter, type designer and social reformer.

Jean Shepherd, who has organised the restoration work, said they had raised about £1,200 of the £3,400 that the work cost so far, aided in large part by a donation of £500 from the parish council.

She said: "We had to have the work done because it so desperate, now we need to raise the money to pay for it.

"We are delighted with the money from the parish council because it was very important.

"It is very, very valuable indeed and very important nationally where it is seen as one of the treasures of Britain, so we needed to do the work on it."

If you want to help pay for the restoration, you can contact Jean Shepherd on 264986.