A £116,000 scheme to help restore historic buildings and traditional shop fronts to their former glory has been launched in Stourport.

Grants will be awarded to improve properties in York Street, New Street, High Street and Bridge Street. The scheme is joint funded by both English Heritage and Wyre Forest District Council.

They are available until March 2010.

Grants for repair and reinstatement works to buidlings are being offered at either 60 per cent of the total costs for repair work, which includes the fees of professionals such as architects and surveyors, or 80 per cent of the total costs for reinstatement works.

Once a grant is offered, the work must be undertaken, and the grant claimed, by 2012.