ACCESS to the inside of Wellington Monument has been closed to the public because of a crack in the tower and the risk of falling masonry.

The problems were unveiled when the National Trust, which manages the monument, decided to look into the access to the site and how it can be improved.

An initial survey carried out by the National Trust's mid-Somerset property team found some visible evidence of bowing and cracking, which indicated the need for significant repair work.

So, the tower was closed for public access in July.

The Trust is working on the momument to feed into the Neroche Project, which is working to develop and maintain the Blackdown Hills.

See the full story on the front page of this week's Wellington and District edition of the County Gazette plus some Momumental Moments.