Canterbury Cathedral has raised in excess of £300,000 in just one month in its campaign to gain funds for restoration works.

|PIC1|Just a month ago a new £50 million fundraising campaign was launched for the Cathedral after years of wear and tear left it suffering from "old age and modern pollution". This week a spokesman for the Cathedral reported that more than £300,000 was raised by individual donors alone.

The spokesman added a detailed archaeological and condition survey had already begun on part of the Cathedral to identify the exact nature of the damage.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said he was "deeply moved by the overwhelming response to this vital campaign".

One month ago when the campaign was launched, it was revealed that the roofing had serious structural problems resulting from repairs after World War II, when supporting beams were encased in concrete, the BBC has reported. The building's south side also had damage from the war.

Statistics reveal that half of the 1m visitors each year to the Cathedral pay entrance fees, however this only covers the annual running costs of the building.