3 December 2012 Last updated at 13:11 ET

Prescot gets £1.85m to 'reinstate original look' of high street

Mr Lonergan said the project would give Prescot a more attractive and vibrant town centre

A Merseyside council has been awarded £1.85m to emphasise the "rich heritage" of one of its town centres.

The Heritage Lottery Fund grant to Knowsley Council will see it undertake a project to revitalise Prescot, a spokeswoman said.

She said the five year project would include the repair and restoration of the town's historic fabric.

Councillor Dave Lonergan said the work would reinstate the original look and feel of the high street.

Work on the project, which will mostly be focussed on Market Place and Eccleston Street, is due to begin in early 2013.

The spokeswoman said the work would see "the replacement of dilapidated or inappropriate modern shop fronts with a more traditional design to reinstate the original look and feel of the high street".

Mr Lonergan said the project would give Prescot a more attractive and vibrant town centre, with historic buildings revived and empty premises brought back to use.

He added that it would also give local people an opportunity to learn new skills and possibly a career in conservation and restoration.