Work has begun to restore a windmill in an East Sussex front garden.

The project was awarded the largest lottery grant for the restoration of an individual windmill in Britain.

Paul and Bee Frost were given £577,000 towards the estimated £1 million costs of restoring the post mill in the village of Windmill Hill, near Hailsham.

At nearly 50ft, the mill is the tallest in Sussex and is one of the most important surviving windmills in Britain.

Restoration work will be carried out during the winter and in spring 2004, work will start to rebuild the mill.

The main restoration will be completed by the end of the summer and in 2005, the sweeps will be erected and the mill opened to the public.

The Frosts originally lived next door and had always admired the property with the windmill dominating the garden.

They bought the house, which used to be an old bakery, and restored it to live in. Then they turned their attention to the windmill.

Built about 1814, it is one of the last surviving hand-turned mills.

However, an automatic turning device is considered essential but the £25,000 cost will not be grant-aided.

For further information on how to make a donation or become a Friend of the Windmill, contact Bee Frost on 01323 833033.