BRIXHAM Battery Heritage Museum has reached the halfway mark of its £6,000 war shelter restoration appeal.

Volunteers have been busy renovating the war shelter rooms and replacing the steel vented windows that were removed in 1947 when the building was bricked up for health and safety reasons.

On Sunday members are taking part in the national volunteering Make a Difference Day by opening the battery from 2pm to 4pm.

Uniformed stewards will lead free guided tours of the 14-acre emergency coastal artillery site. The tours will include visits to the 30m-long underground tunnel and war shelter rooms, which have been fitted with temporary lighting.

Battery chairman Phil Trayhorn said support had come from fundraising efforts and the kindness of donors such as the Port of Brixham Trawler Race Association and the Paignton branch of the National Service (Royal Air Force) Association.

"We would like to thank all who have supported our appeal," he said.

"We are now halfway there and we hope to have the buildings fully restored and open to the public by Easter next year."