THE total cost of rebuilding the Guildhall in Chard has topped £2 million.

But the cost to local tax payers is only a fraction of that sum.

More than £1.5 million of the cash has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Chard Town Council, which instigated the project after listening to the views of local people, has had to find £370,819.87 - some of which has already been paid back to lenders.

The council's financial input represents 18 per cent of the project cost.

It has also found £148,000 towards the costing of fitting out the Guildhall once the rebuilding work is complete.