Volunteers work to reopen Stoke-on-Trent's Newchapel observatory

Community champion Matthew Wright said the restoration project had been "enormous" with lots of people involved.

"I got involved two years ago and the site was completely overgrown," he said.

"But also work is going on, on the dome, to build the floor and get ready for the installation of the dome... it's an exciting point that we're at."

Keele Observatory astronomer James Albinson is volunteering to use his expertise to help build the new dome and telescope.

"It was one of the larger amateur telescopes built at that time in the United Kingdom and now we are working to restore the floor, extend the original support," he said.

"We have a new pillar going up through the floor, new dome and a new telescope to carry us forward for a number of decades to come."

Volunteer Chelsea Johnson said she hoped the project inspires more people to become interested in astronomy once the site open.

"The younger generation needs to get involved in it because there's not many places like this.

"Look at Jodrell Bank [home of the UK's largest telescope].

"That's struggling for funding at the minute. It's losing it and this is why we need everyone in the community to get involved."

Reporting from BBC News contributed to this story.