An appeal for �1m has also been set up

The money, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, could be released as early as November to help restore the grade II- listed Arnos Vale cemetery.

Richard Smith, chairman of the Arnos Vale Trust, said he was "confident" the bid would be successful.

"We have a good relationship with the fund, and a good consultancy team behind the business planning," he said.

He said there was no final figure on the lottery fund application, but it was likely to be about �4.2m.

The trust has also employed a professional fund-raiser to help with a separate appeal to raise �1m for restorartion work.

The money will first be used to landscape the cemetery and build the education centre on the non-conformist, grade II-listed chapel on the site.

The city council has set �2m aside towards the restoration project and English Heritage has also pledged �250,000 with the prospect of a further �150,000 to follow.