Work is starting on a �19m project to open the historic spa waters of Bath to the public for the first time in nearly 25 years.

Nobody has been able to use the baths since the NHS closed its treatment centre in 1978 - even though the city was founded on the natural springs thousands of years ago.

Previous attempts to restore the spas have failed because of cost and concerns over the purity of the source of the water.

The Millennium Commission has given a grant of �7.78m to refurbish five listed buildings, including the 18th century Hot Bath and Cross Bath.

Sacred site

The Cross Bath is a Georgian building and is recognised as a sacred site by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature's Sacred Land Project. The organisation has backed the restoration, which begins on Monday.

However, one local group - the Spring Foundation - is concerned that the work could disrupt the water source, although project managers say that won't happen.

The Hot Bath will offer a medical treatment centre and hydro therapy. The building will be restored and updated with glass features and skylights.

But the centre piece of the Bath Spa Project will be a stone cube on the site of the 1920s Beau Street swimming baths. It will incorporate multi-level pools, treatment and steam rooms, massage jets and rest areas.

The other buildings included in the project are the Bath Street offices and the Hetling Pump Room, which will become a research centre.

The project has suffered some delay and the Bath and North East Somerset Council is still looking for a private backer to offset some of the cost.

Expectations are that it will be completed in the next two years.