PEOPLE are invited to see and find out more about ongoing restoration works at Wordsley's iconic Red House Glass Cone,

An open day is being funded by contractors Philips and Curry as part of their commitment to social value during the restoration project.

The event will run from 11am to 4pm on Saturday March 23 and will give people chance to find more about work taking place at the historic site.

Dudley Council is investing £1.5million in the restoration, which is expected to take 18 months in total.

The shop, visitor centre and craft studios remain open as usual throughout, although the onsite cafe has closed.

During the open day, the interior of the cone will be open for short ‘hard hat tours’, giving visitors chance to see the internal scaffolding and work completed so far.

To guarantee a place on the tours, people need to book a free ticket via ticketsource.co.uk/red-house-glass-cone

Contractors will be on hand to talk about the works and there will be live demonstrations of the repointing process on the cone structure.

Children can enjoy a free craft activity in the education room on the day and there will also be glass makers tool handling sessions.

Refreshments will be provided by a local event food company The Camper Hamper, with the first 100 visitors to the site to be offered a free bacon sandwich.

The Blowfish Glass Contemporary Glass Gallery will be open from midday to 2pm, along with all the other craft studio businesses based on the site.

Councillor Paul Bradley, Dudley Council's cabinet member for communities and economic delivery, said: “I would like to thank the cone’s restoration contractors Philips and Curry for funding this open day.

“The event will give visitors a great opportunity to get up close to the restoration works and to hear what’s been happening first hand.

“Once again we are reminding people that the cone is very much open for business throughout the works with businesses and craft studios still operating on the site.”

Entrance is free to the cone which dates back to 1788-1794 and is one of only four surviving glass cones in the UK. Of the four, it is also the best preserved.

The council has worked with an accredited historic architect and Historic England to secure the appropriate permission to begin the sensitive works on the 100-foot high structure, which is a Grade II* listed, scheduled ancient monument.

The restoration work must use authentic techniques and materials to remain true to the cone’s history. It includes internal and external repointing of the entire structure from top to bottom with authentic lime mortar. Vegetation sprouting from the cone is also being carefully removed.

A new lift will also be put in place by the visitor centre to allow wheelchair access to the upper level with a viewing platform and the hot glass studio will be remodelled.