AN INTERACTIVE visitors centre is to be built at St Ann's Allotments after the site received a £330,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Project manager Harry Bury said the money will be "vital" for the next stage of the multi-million restoration of the allotments, off Ransom Road.

Mr Bury, who is employed by the Renewal Trust, said: "This money is great news for the allotment.

"It is vital to help us to clear two contaminated plots which were used as tips, go forward with the building of an allotment centre and provide further employment for two people for perhaps three years."

The Renewal Trust and other local groups had previously raised around £4.5 million to begin the transformation of the allotments.

Mr Bury added: "We are now just coming to the end of a four to five-year restoration project which has involved a new water structure and clearing overgrown plots.

"We have also been building up a historical database which will be part of the allotment centre. We hope to create a space with indoor displays, make use of IT so the centre is interactive and has activities for young people, as well as creating some display gardens.

"We also hope to restore a Victorian greenhouse so visitors can really feel the history of the site."

The site is the oldest and largest area of Victorian detached town gardens in Britain and is Grade 2 listed by English Heritage.

The site covers 75 acres and although the size has changed slightly over time, the gardens are still in their 1830s layout. There are 670 individual gardens on three connected sites: Hungerhill Gardens, Stonepit Coppice Gardens and Gorsey Close Gardens.

Mr Bury added that, although the lottery money would complete the restoration project, it would not mean the allotments are financially safe.

He said: "There will always be a need to raise money because we will need to staff the allotment centre too. But the £330,000 is a great boost."