The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that more than £900,000 is to be shared between 22 historic buildings in Wales to allow essential repairs and restoration work to be carried out.

Heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones unveiled details of the investment plans, which will see grants ranging between £3,600 and £125,000 handed out to schemes at sites located across the country. St Mary's Church in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, has received the largest Assembly Government grant, with £125,000 to be used to help restore its historic spire. Two other churches - St Nicholas in Grosmont, Monmouthshire, and St Mary's Church in Abergavenny - have received funding worth at least £100,000.

The Grade I-listed Dyffryn House and Gardens in St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan, has been awarded £50,000 to help fund the refurbishment of the property's main rooms, while Scolton Manor near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire will net £27,000 to restore the building's exterior. Jones said: "The grant offers, which are for a wide range of historic buildings across Wales, including many of the fine churches of Wales, will ensure that some of our most important buildings are restored and maintained for the enjoyment of future generations."