HAMPSHIRE’S only operating windmill is back in business.

200-year-old Bursledon Windmill has re-opened its doors to the public after the community, trusts and the council banded together to spend £150,000 on a make-over.

Its rebirth was celebrated with a day of fun with a chance to see the windmill turning for the first time in two years, live music from local band Tinderbox, storytelling from Treecreeper and the unveiling of interactive panels in the new visitors’ centre.

The centre is in the 16th century Chineham Barn and refurbishments have also been made to the 18th century building Hiltingbury Granary, a pond, woodland walk and lawned area with a clay outdoor oven constructed by windmill volunteers.

Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Bursledon Parish Coun-cil as well as the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust rallied together to secure a £94,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to replace the windshaft.

A further £47,000 raised by the councils helped to recruit and train more volunteers to run the windmill and visitor services, as well as develop new opportunities for schools, families and the community.

The windmill closed to the public in August while the work took place.

Janet Owen from Hampshire Cultural Trust said: “We are incredibly lucky as a county to have one of the few remaining working windmills in the country right on our doorstep.”

Hampshire councillor, Keith Chapman, added: “The windmill site is a species rich oasis for wildlife in a busy area, this has been an exciting and rewarding partnership project which will preserve this historic building for generations to come to enjoy and learn from.”