WORK is underway to bring three iconic bottle ovens back to their former glory.

More than £350,000 is being spent on renovating the kilns at the Gladstone Pottery Museum, in Longton, which date back as far as the 1770s.

It was feared the ovens could become structurally unsafe within a few decades if essential repair work was not carried out, after centuries of gradual erosion had taken their toll.

But the £360,000 maintenance project, which is being jointly funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and English Heritage, will preserve the world famous bottle ovens for years to come.

The work at the museum, which draws 50,000 visitors a year to the city from all over the world, is expected to around 12 weeks to complete.

Museum manager Angela Lee said: "One of the bottle ovens was restored 10 years ago, and this work will bring the other three up to a good condition.

"Bottle ovens were meant to be structures which got warm when they were built but since they have not been in use, they have become cold and damp.

"This has caused the bricks to decay, and frost, rain and vegetation have all begun to erode and decay the bricks and mortar.

"The metal bonts, which hold the bricks of the kiln together, have also rusted due to the damp.

"The workmen are using specially designed scaffolding which doesn't touch the bottle ovens and the work they are doing is very labour intensive."

Visitors to the Uttoxeter Road attraction will be able to step inside the bottle ovens once the work is complete.

Angela added: "We are hoping all the building work should be completed by the end of March, unless we encounter a problem along the way which we were not aware of.

"People have not been allowed to go into the bottle ovens because of concerns over the structures, but once this work is finished, they will be able to go inside again and have a look around, which will be a fantastic experience for our visitors."

Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development, said the work currently underway should prevent a higher repair bill in the future.

He said: "The work being done on the bottle ovens is to make sure that they are safe for the public to see and visit, and also to make sure they remain in good condition for future generations to enjoy.

"We must value our heritage and make sure that the legacy of the pottery industry lives on through these kilns.

"As the bottle ovens get older, more work is needed to maintain them, and it's essential we do this now to make sure they are kept well preserved."

The museum remains open while the work is being carried out.