SUPPORTERS of a campaign to bring new life to an eighteenth century cotton mill are now confident of completing their project after the building scooped third place in the BBC 2 series Restoration.

Gayle Mill, near Hawes, in Wensleydale, was one of eight historic buildings competing in Sunday's final, which was broadcast live from Hampton Court Palace.

The winner was The Old Grammar School in Kings Norton, Birmingham. It won more than £3m to fund a complete restoration.

A bus load of campaigners went to the event to put their case for the mill. Martin Glynn, director of the Gayle Mill Trust, said he was delighted the building had reached third place, but disappointed it had not won.

"Coming third has certainly raised the profile of the mill and the number of votes it attracted augurs well for the completion of its restoration,'' he said.

Supporters have already raised £900,000 to repair it and convert it into a learning centre. It is estimated that £250,000 more is needed to restore the 250-year-old water system, which is one of the oldest in existence.

Harvey Dowdy, project manager for its owner, the North East Civic Trust, said: "Gayle Mill will not become just another museum, but a focus for all sorts of activity relating to the woodlands of the Yorkshire Dales."