A HISTORIC war memorial which was close to collapse before campaigners raised thousands of pounds needed to save it - is 'standing proud' once more after its renovated wooden cross was finally re-installed.

Work to restore the crumbling First World War plinth outside St Barnabas Church in Woodford Green has been underway since March, but the project reached a symbolic moment when its newly restored timber 'calvary' was reconnected with the stone base.

The event, which took place late last week, marks the completion of the structural restoration of the monument, which campaigners - led by deputy church warden Alan Clark - raised £8,000 to carry out.

Both structures were in a worse state of repair than expected when the project began, with the base of the cross found to be rotten and the stone plinth which bears the names of 57 local men who gave their lives for their country, needing extensive repair.

But Mr Clark hopes the project will now be completed in around two weeks time.

He said: "It's good to see the calvary standing proud again. It's a symbolic moment

"It's the most eyecatching part of the momument. It's the bit that draws people in.

"It had been suspended by scaffholding while it was being restored, but it's now back in the stone base.

"I'm hoping we can now alter the boundary all a little to enable people to get a little closer to it.

"The figure of Christ and the roof above the monument now need to be restored but the structural work is complete.

"It's taken a little longer than we expected but it's great to see the monument so close to completion."