DURHAM Cathedral’s coffers will be replenished by thousands of pounds following a court ruling by a tax judge - helping toward the future restoration of a iconic bridge.

The cathedral has been at odds with the tax authorities about repairs to the historic Prebends Bridge, after carrying out initial work in 2011/12.

When it sought a VAT rebate on the costs of the work, HM Revenue and Customs dug in its heels and refused to allow VAT paid on repairs to be set off against VAT payable by the cathedral’s cafe and gift shop.

Tax officials argued that that work on the bridge was all part and parcel of the cathedral’s “non-economic” activities.

However, tax judge Richard Thomas, has now come down in the cathedral’s favour.

He said the distance between the bridge and the cathedral’s precincts, and the steep climb involved, made no legal difference, ruling that repairing and maintaining the bridge had as much to do with the cathedral’s business as it did with its religious activities.

Judge Thomas’s decision is worth about £4,000 to the cathedral’s coffers, but will continue to yield financial benefits in the future.

The ancient monument, part of the UNESCO world heritage site, gives the best view of the cathedral and was often home to JMW Turner’s easel.

And now it carries thousands of selfie-taking tourists across to the River Wear to the peninsula on which the 700-year-old cathedral stands.

Noone knows for sure who owns the bridge, but the cathedral has always seen its repair and maintenance as its responsibility.

Cathedral Chapter Clerk Philip Davies said: “We are delighted that the cathedral is able to reclaim a proportion of VAT paid on repair work to Prebends Bridge.

“The recent hearing relates to repair work carried out in 2011. The bridge is a much-loved feature of the Durham city centre woodlands and riverbanks.

“It forms part of the cathedral estate and is part of the UNESCO Durham World Heritage Site. In due course a much larger restoration project is required on the bridge. It will be incredibly helpful, as the cathedral looks to fund the future restoration, that the principle of reclaiming a proportion of the VAT has been established.

The continual upkeep and conservation of the Cathedral, as a Grade I listed building and part of a World Heritage Site, is very costly. Any way in which costs can be reduced is extremely helpful. The future restoration of Prebends’ Bridge will be a multi-million pound project.”