TIME is running out to save a Suffolk tide mill after a bid for a £1million grant was rejected.

TIME is running out to save a Suffolk tide mill after a bid for a £1million grant was rejected.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has refused to give the grant to the Woodbridge Tide Mill and now the mill's trustees have urged the public to rally round and support a fundraising campaign.

The trustees wanted the money to carry out essential repairs to stop the mill falling into the River Deben and they aimed to increase its appeal to visitors by adding new attractions.

They included grinding corn to make wholemeal flour and a 42-inch video display on an interior wall to allow visitors to watch the grinding process.

But the fund was concerned about the cost of the project, estimated at £1.36m, and Robyn Llewellyn, the fund's east of England regional manager, said: “The committee had to make some tough decisions; they had more than twice as much in grant request than they had funds available on the day.

“The committee understand that Woodbridge Tide Mill is an iconic building, much-loved by local people. However, the committee felt that the project's learning proposals need to be stronger for an application of this size.”

The Tide Mill Trust will reapply for a grant and the trustees said they would reconsider the amount of the request without sacrificing essential works.