WORK on the first phase of the ambitious Malmesbury Abbey restoration scheme could get underway in the next month.

The project looks set to cost around £3 million over all and involves a three-storey extension to replace a small boiler house on the 12th century Grade I listed building.

The extension will incorporate new toilets, kitchen, community rooms and a new west door will be installed, along with a courtyard.

Some smaller projects, such as moving the bookshop and modernising the existing toilets and kitchen area, will take place inside.

The committee would like to see the project completed in 2010 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Malmesbury's famous monk Eilmer attempting to fly from the abbey tower.

The project, which was conceived a decade ago, was given permission by North Wiltshire District Council last May and now work on some of the small aspects of the project look set to start.

The Abbey restoration team have around £20,000 in place to start internal work such as creating new toilets and moving part of the bookshop.

Although most of this will be temporary while money is being raised for the big build it marks the first step in getting the project under way.

Church warden and member of the Abbey Restoration committee Chris Simons said: "It isn't much but it certainly is a start.

"It has been ever such a long process and we never thought we would get this far so it is really exciting.

"Although the toilets will eventually be in the new extension it will be great to have new facilities in the mean time.

"We really do need the extra space and we have totally outgrown the current facilities.

"We have performances here with hundreds of people and there's only one toilet.

"We still have a long way to go and we will have to go through the process of submitting detailed plans but al least this first little bit can get going."

The book shop will also be moved into a room that is used as the creche at the moment while the work is being carried out.

Three new toilets will be installed in what is currently the office and a small kitchen area will be upgraded.