A host of cherished historic churches, including five in the Times's circulaton area, will undergo emergency repair work thanks to a handout of millions of pounds from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A host of cherished historic churches, including five in the Times's circulaton area, will undergo emergency repair work thanks to a handout of millions of pounds from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Among 150 English churches sharing �15.5m are 22 in Norfolk that will get �2.1m between them.

The county is the leading beneficiary of the grants because it has a unique network of medieval churches in hundreds of locations.

Greg Luton, English Heritage regional director for the East of England, said: "From the rural parish churches of the East of England to the splendour of the New West End Synagogue in London's Bayswater, England's places of worship face some serious challenges.

"These grants will fund urgent repairs so that these wonderful buildings which are so central to this country's heritage and identity can remain."

Times area churches getting cash are:

Hockering St Michael - �165,000 towards the nave and north aisle repairs and re-roofing including rainwater goods.

Necton All Saints - �138,000 towards tower including buttress repairs and lantern/cupola.

North Elmham St Mary - �87,000 towards re-leading of south aisle roof, repairing south aisle and transept walls and replacing rainwater goods in cast iron.

Sharrington All Saints - �52,000 for essential ceiling repairs.

Wood Dalling St Andrew - �140,000 towards urgent structural repairs to the south aisle roof, new lead roof plus ground drainage.