A FAMOUS Bromsgrove gate has been restored and reopened eight months after being damaged by vandals.

The lych gate, which stands overlooking the medieval staircase leading to St John’s Church, was found vandalised by the Reverend Chris Wingfield after the August Bank Holiday last year.

Stones were ripped from the walls surrounding one of the gates’ pillars, and pushed down the historic ‘48 steps’.

At the time the vicar told the Advertiser he was fearful the whole of the lych gate would be “destroyed”.

But former Tory councillor and district council leader Dennis Norton began a fundraising drive to repair the lych gate.

Nearly £3,000 was raised to cover labour costs, but without support of Bromsgrove businesses, it was estimated a further £2,000 would have been needed.

Money for the project came from a county council grant, the Bromsgrove Society and Court Leet. A donation from a town resident of £1,000, was also made.

Restoration work began last March and, on Friday, the gate was officially reopened by town MP Sajid Javid.

Dennis told those gathered it had been a real “community” project, while Mr Wingfield thanked Dennis for grasping the nettle and praised townsfolk for coming together.

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid said what had struck him was the response of residents- instead of seeking retribution it was about moving on and repairing the gate.

He said: “They (the vandals) probably didn’t know what they doing - they did not realise they were destroying history going back 350 years.”

The gate was originally erected in 1656, the date carved on the main beam of the structure.