Work on restoring the historic Bradwell Windmill to its former glory is due to be complete this summer.

Milton Keynes Council decided to spend more than £160,000 in renovating the sails and restoring one of the city’s most historic Grade II listed buildings last May.

The project started in autumn 2013, and since then contractors Owlsworth IJP millwrights have been busy removing the ten metre sails and restoring the building.

Now under the care of Milton Keynes Museum, who will run the site on behalf of the council, the windmill will once again play a key role as a visitor attraction at the heart of the community.

This September the Milton Keynes Museum, Stantonbury and New Bradwell Parish Councils, Bradville Community Centre and other local community partners and volunteers are looking forward to running and reopening the mill to the public in time for the popular Open Heritage Days.

Bill Griffiths, Director of the Milton Keynes Museum said: “We are looking forward to having the building back in good condition, with the machinery restored and the sails in position. Not many towns have a working mill so close to the centre and it is something we should all be proud of”

Cllr Peter Geary, Cabinet Member responsible for Heritage, said: “This is a rare and valuable survival nationally and one of our key heritage assets. Although Milton Keynes is often thought of as a new city we still have with a number of historic sites that it is important we do everything we can to preserve for generations to come.”