English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund have given �2,027,000 to help restore Grade I and II religious buildings across the region.

Eight churches in Herefordshire will share �602,000 and five churches in Shropshire have been given �360,000.

Holy Trinity in Stratford-upon-Avon, the burial place of William Shakespeare, has been offered �50,000.

'Vital repairs'

Four other churches in Warwickshire will share �238,000.

About �360,000 has been allocated to buildings in Staffordshire.

St Thomas' Church in Butterton, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, which has been closed since 2003 because of structural problems, will get �258,000.

Five in Worcestershire will get �410,000 and St Peter's and St Paul's Church in Aston, Birmingham, will get �56,000.

Peter Courtis, West Midlands committee member for the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "Places of worship have been the focal point of communities in the West Midlands for generations.

"We are glad that funds from English Heritage and from the National Lottery can continue to play such a vital part in ensuring that these cherished buildings in the cities, towns and villages of the region are safeguarded for the future."