A MULTI-million pound project to transform Durham Cathedral has received a major boost.

The Friends of Durham Cathedral have donated a total of £590,000 to the £10m Open Treasure project, which aims to vastly improve the cathedral visitor experience with new world-class exhibition spaces and facilities.

The running total for the fundraising effort now stands at £8.1m, with the Friends being the second largest donor behind the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has given £3.9m.

The Lego cathedral model has so far raised £125,000 of the expected £350,000.

The Friends’ donations will be used for stone conservation, interpretation boards and signs, electrical works, heating upgrades and the re-mounting of St Cuthbert’s coffin.

A further donation of £100,000 is planned.

Gordon Summerbell, the group’s treasurer, said: “We’re very proud as an organisation to be able support the Open Treasure project at the cathedral in this way.

“Our organisation exists to help fund the work that may otherwise not be able to go ahead at the cathedral and it’s our pleasure to contribute to this momentous project, which will transform the way visitors experience our wonderful cathedral for generations to come.”

The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, the Dean of Durham, paid tribute to the work of the Friends.

“I’m amazed by the Friends’ generosity, it’s been utterly magnificent – quite splendid.

“We owe that to the 3,000 people (Friends) who have contributed and this is just the latest expression of 82 years of generosity.

“The chapter and cathedral owes so much to the Friends, who really are friends in the best sense of the word. We couldn’t do this project without them.”

For more information on Open Treasure, visit durhamcathedral.co.uk/open-treasure