ALL Saints Church in Ilkley has been awarded more than half a million pounds from the National Lottery to enable it to reveal its heritage - from its Saxon crosses and Roman fort through to medieval, Victorian and 20th century developments.

Supported by £543,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) the project will improve access and open up the interior of the church. The grant will be added to £600,000 raised by the church which will enable contracts to go out to tender and work could start in the early summer.

The project will create a light, welcoming building which will be able to be used by the community for a wide range of purposes. Interactive displays, guided walks and digital media will interpret more than 2,000 years of history. An educational programme is planned to share its history with school children locally and from Keighley and Bradford.

Volunteers will have roles to play in welcoming visitors and a new staff post will be created to help implement the plans.

Jonathan Wright, vice-chairman of the Parochial Church Council said: "We are delighted to have this support and encouragement from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Our church has been an important part of Ilkley's Christian and community heritage for centuries. We will now be able to preserve it further into the future and widen access to our special place for even more people to share, appreciate and enjoy."

Derek Twine, development coordinator for All Saints Ilkley added: "It really is exciting that we're now in a position to realise our vision for the church in a way that shows off and interprets the heritage story and also becomes an even more welcoming place for the wider community."

All Saints Ilkley is one of the most historic places in Ilkley, standing on the former Roman Fort of Olicana, a Scheduled Ancient Monument founded in 80 AD. When the fort was abandoned, Anglo-Saxon setters reused the stone to build the first church on the site.

The current Grade II* listed building is partly medieval and was substantially enlarged by the Victorians. The 15th century tower houses three Grade I listed Saxon crosses as well as several Roman altars of great regional importance. National Lottery funding will also enable the building itself to have improved heating and weatherproofing to give it greater protection. A new link building will also connect the church and Church House. All Saints is committed to fundraising for further work to be undertaken at a later date to refurbish and develop Church House, which provides a hall, meeting rooms, kitchen, offices and toilets.

David Renwick, head of HLF Yorkshire and Humber said: "This is exciting news for a well-loved church with a fascinating history dating right back tot he Saxon period. Now, thanks to National Lottery players, those stories and the church itself will be brought alive for future generations."