AN 800 year-old church was saved from closing it's doors through the winter months today, thanks to an environmental initiative.

St James Church in Berwick St James had a "seriously leaking" private water supply. and thanks to the Watermark Award, which proves funds for environmental projects within the Wessex Water area, it has now been connected back to the mains supply.

A PCC meeting voted to connect the church to mains water, which involved digging up the road outside the church and connecting the mains Wessex Water supply to the church’s standpipe in the churchyard.

“Without a reliable source of water we would probably have had to close the church during winter.” said Stephen Bush one of the churchwarden’s and PCC Vice Chairman.

“This is because our church’s heating system has a header tank high up in the boiler house that needs to be kept topped up.

"Last winter I used a ladder to climb to the header tank five to six times, before each service, to fill the tank and this procedure has just started again as the weather has become colder. I know that sounds a bit extreme but it is the only way to keep the church heated and open.”

Stephen added: “Being without water has made us appreciate how much we rely on it and I am very grateful to Wessex Water who have generously helped the village towards connecting our wonderful Norman Church to the mains water supply.

“St James has possibly never had to close its doors in 800 years and we did not want to be the first to close this historic church during the winter months.”

Now in its 25th year, the Watermark Award has supported nearly one thousand environmental initiatives.

Now communities can apply for a special Anniversary Watermark to help with installing water bottle refill points that will reduce single use plastic drinking bottles

Organised by The Conservation Foundation, all projects are judged by a panel chaired by its President David Bellamy.

To apply for a Watermark Award visit wessexwater.co.uk/watermark