AN HISTORICAL tower in a North Somerset village has been reopened after being restored by a community group.

AN HISTORICAL tower in a North Somerset village has been reopened after being restored by a community group.

Uphill Village Society members held a special ceremony at the top of Uphill Hill to celebrate the £5,000 refurbishment of the 14th century building.

The former windmill was converted into a Mortello Tower at the start of the Napoleonic wars. It remained in military use until it was abandoned by the Royal Observer Corps in 1952.

The building was converted in the 1970s by the Society and Weston Civic Society into a viewpoint with a spiral staircase.

However, over the years the inside decor was neglected and had become decayed.

Now, with the help of a grant from Weston Town Council, the society has replaced a gate at the tower's entrance to stop cattle getting in, the walls have been repainted and information boards have been installed.

Bleadon artist John Hickley produced the artwork for the boards which now adorn the tower.

The society has also recently installed new fencing to the boundary of the Bluebell Field at a cost of £5,000 at the entry to the village.

Chairman Stewart Castle said: "This work has long been needed and has already attracted considerable praise from residents. It marks a vast improvement to the tower for the benefit, not just of Uphill, residents but thousands of visitors who go there each year.