A MILLION pound project to restore and update Gilbert WhiteÕs House in Selborne will finally get under way in a matter of days, thanks to vital funding now raised.

But an extra £100,000 still needs to be secured if the work is to be completed in the way staff at the house and Oates Museum hope.

Renovation work should start next week with the tearooms, shop and the house itself not open to the public until April 1.

The garden, parkland and field studies centre will remain open. A series of talks and walks is planned, with staff in period costume, to maintain interest in the 18th century treasure.

The start of the works will bring a sigh of relief to staff, who a year ago announced that the project was under threat unless £250,000 was raised by Christmas.

The Selborne museum launched an appeal to raise the large sum after the three-phase project was hit by setbacks.

At the time, thanks to cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund, work had successfully been completed to restore the garden to its original 18th century form.

Finishing touches were also still being put to a new field studies centre where school children could learn about the countryside and natural history surrounding Selborne.

The centre was later officially opened in July by Prince Charles.

However, the last, and vital, stage of the project to overhaul the fabric of the building which was threatened with being halted unless the additional money could be found.

The work includes a refurbishment of the houseÕs 17 roof areas, the rewiring of the building and the installation of central heating.

The house and museum won lottery funding for the project in 1998, but building costs have escalated and a clearer picture of the extent of work which needs to be done to the roof pushed the final total even higher.

The restoration and refurbishment of the roof areas needs to be done in the spring months during a dry spell so that the house and Oates Museum can reopen during the lucrative summer months.

This meant that if the remaining £250,000 of the million pound project could not be found last year, the project would be delayed another year, resulting in further increasing costs.

Since staff launched their SOS around £150,000 has been raised.

Museum manager Maria Newbery explained: ÒMost of our funding for this project has been through grant donations from various charitable trusts, but we have also held fundraising events as well as running a successful buy a tile campaign.Ó

Builders will start work inside the building to improve disabled access, install new toilets, rewire the building and install new heating, while staff continue their efforts to find the remaining £100,000 needed for the work on the roof.

Museum manager Maria Newbery said: ÒWe are still fundraising for the roof. That work will start in March and we are still holding a number of fundraising events until then in an effort to try to close the gap.Ó

Even if the whole sum is not found the vital maintenance work will be completed, although some cost-cutting measures may have to be considered.

ÒWe apologise for this disruption to both the village and to our visitors but trust that everyone will understand the need to improve and restore this historic house, home of the famous naturalist Gilbert White.Ó

Once the work is complete, blueprints can be drawn up to embark on a new project to create a new gallery for the Oates Museum.

ÒIn the last few months there has been a temporary exhibition which will continue, but we are planning a new Oates Museum,Ó the manager said.