THE campaign to restore Fovant badges has received a pre-Christmas boost with the announcement this week of a National Lottery award of £70,000.

The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable work to start on refurbishing four of the 12 famous regimental emblems carved into the chalk hills overlooking the village.

All the huge badges - cut into the downs by First World War soldiers stationed at Fovant - have faded, and campaigners are planning to restore seven of them over the next few years.

The lottery grant follows the Government's decision to accept the recommendation of English Heritage earlier this year that the badges be given formal recognition and awarded ancient monument status.

This means that the sites are now protected and cannot be destroyed or changed in any way.

The lottery contribution brings to £170,000 the total funds raised since the restoration campaign was launched in July.

Donations from individuals alone have reached £33,000, while charitable trusts have provided £31,500 to date, and local authorities £5,500.

A national newspaper has weighed in with a £30,000 contribution.

It is estimated, though, that another £50,000 will be needed for the restoration programme to be completed.

The first four badges to be restored will be those of the Wiltshire Regiment, the London Rifle Brigade, the 6th Battalion City of London Regiment and the Australian Common-wealth Military Forces, which the Australian government has regularly supported.