A host of East Anglia's cherished historic churches will undergo emergency repair work thanks to a handout of millions of pounds from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was announced this evening.

A host of East Anglia's cherished historic churches will undergo emergency repair work thanks to a handout of millions of pounds from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was announced this evening.

Among 150 English churches sharing �15.5m are 22 in Norfolk that will get �2.1m between them, seven sharing �905,000 in Suffolk and two receiving a total of �146,000 in Cambridgeshire.

They include All Saints at Catfield and All Saints, Edingthorpe, both in Norfolk, which are getting �113,000 and �86,000 to re-thatch their roofs using Norfolk reed.

Norfolk is the leading beneficiary of the grants because it has a unique network of medieval churches in hundreds of locations.

Greg Luton, English Heritage regional director for the East of England, said: 'From the rural parish churches of the East of England to the splendour of the New West End Synagogue in London's Bayswayer, England's places of worship face some serious challenges.

'These grants will fund urgent repairs so that these wonderful buildings which are so central to this country's heritage and identity can remain.'

Churches getting cash include:

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

t Hilton St Mary Magdalene - �75,000

t Longstowe St Mary - �71,000

NORFOLK

t Aldeby St Mary - �117,000

t Catfield All Saints - �113,000

t Cranwich St Mary - �59,000

t Deopham St Andrew - �71,000

t Edingthorpe All Saints - �86,000

t Fersfield St Andrew - �54,000

t Fishley St Mary - �69,000

t Gunthorpe St Mary - �78,000

t Hockering St Michael - �165,000

t Langley St Michael - �138,000

t Necton All Saints - �138,000

t North Elmham St Mary - �87,000

t Pulham St Mary, St Mary the Virgin - �52,000

t Sharrington All Saints - �52,000

t South Walsham St Mary - �46,000

t Stockton St Michael and All Angels - �47,000

t Thurlton All Saints - �106,000

t Tivetshall St Margaret - �98,000

t Trunch St Botolph - �111,000

t West Dereham St Andrew - �112,000

t Wiggenhall St Germans - �118,000

t Wood Dalling St Andrew - �140,000.

SUFFOLK

t Cavendish St Mary - �174,000

t Cotton St Andrew - �94,000

t Denham St John the Baptist - �199,000

t Gosbeck St Mary - �82,000

t Henstead St Mary - �115,000

t Occold St Michael and All Angels - �109,000

t Stanstead St James - �132,000.