St Paul's £40m repair project

St Paul's Cathedral has embarked on an ambitious £40 million programme of repairs in time for the 300th anniversary of its final completion.

The project involves cleaning off centuries of dirt, both inside and out, as well as repairing cracks in the stonework caused when the building began sinking on its foundations more than 100 years ago.

The first phase of the work - the cleaning of the South Transept - was unveiled today, thanks to the generosity of the Flemings merchant banking family. Robin Fleming, grandson of the bank's founder, and his family have given £10.8 million to the campaign.

The Dean of St Paul's, the Very Reverend Dr John Moses, said the family had "earned the gratitude not just of all those involved with St Paul's Cathedral but also of the nation".