One of west Norfolk's most famous landmark buildings has scooped two top heritage awards in a prestigious competition.

One of west Norfolk's most famous landmark buildings has scooped two top heritage awards in a prestigious competition.

The newly renovated Greyfriars Tower has won both the heritage award and the public sector award at the RIBA East Spirit of Ingenuity Architectural Awards cere-mony.

The building, dubbed the "leaning tower" of King's Lynn, underwent a £1m programme of vital repairs and conservation work last year.

The tower is one of the most significant landmarks in the town and is the only surviving above-ground feature of a once magnificent medieval Franciscan Friary that formerly stood in the town.

Nick Daubney, leader of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, said last night: "This is excellent news.

"We have always been very proud of the sensitive way that the work has been carried out to the tower and the stunning results that have been achieved.

"It is only right that the efforts of the architects, landscape architects and contractors, along with our own project managers here at the council, are recognised in this way."

The £1.1m project, received national recognition when its plight was featured on the BBC2 programme Restoration back in 2003, where it came fifth.

The huge amount of public support for the tower helped to secure Lottery funding of £849,000 which, together with funding from the council, English Heritage and other donations, meant that the tower and gardens could be restored to their former glory.

The tower reopened to the public in October last year, having been closed since 1998.

Mark Fuller, project manager, added: "This restoration has been a slow and painstaking project, so it is really pleasing that the effort, dedication and commitment of everyone involved has been recognised in this way."

A total of 47 projects were entered for the awards, of which 18 made it to the awards shortlist.

The project was nominated by the architects at Norwich-based Purcell Miller Tritton, and others involved include Jeremy Stacey Architects, Universal Stone, The Morton Partnership, and Focus Consultants (UK) Ltd.