The ancient Rollright Stones near Chipping Norton are now in the hands of a charitable trust thanks to a £45,000 grant from the Hanson Environment Fund.

The pre-historic stone circle, pictured above, was bought in 1997 by Nat Le Roux and Nick Cavalla from Pauline Flick - whose family had owned it for a number of years. They helped set up the Rollright Trust, which has now taken on ownership of the stones.

Other funding for the trust came from the British Society of Dowsers as well as from the Rollright Trust's own public appeal three years ago.

The money will help the Rollright Trust buy more land around the Stones to improve their setting and bring another standing stone and associated burial sites under its management.

The grant from the Hanson Environment Fund has been made through the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment - TOE.

TOE chairman Robin Buxton said: "In the Middle Ages, the Rollright Stones were classed as one of the miracles of Britain. They are a national as well as a local treasure. This is a strategic, flagship project for TOE and we wish the Rollright Trust every success in implementing its conservation and access plan, which we will follow with interest."

Mr Le Roux said: "When we bought the Stones in 1997 it was to make sure that they did not become just any other heritage attraction.

"We are delighted to find a group of people who already cared deeply for the site and shared our vision of retaining its special character.

"We helped to set up the trust and are delighted to be handing the Stones to an organisation dedicated to conserving them in a sensitive way."