For a stonemason, working on the restoration of world famous Canterbury Cathedral is the pinnacle of their success.

For the team of 12 stonemasons at the county's UNESCO World Heritage Site, every day is a joy to go to work - and this summer they want to share that excitement for stonework with the next generation.

The team have been working on repairing and replacing sections of the historic landmark since 2017, and this summer, for youngsters stepping into the precincts of the Cathedral, Monday to Friday, they could bump into one of them - see them at work and, even have a go themselves.

Until Friday, August 27, families can stop at the entrance and meet the stonemasons at work, as they carve out the latest replacement pinnacle or finial ready for placing back onto the building, some of which dates back to 1070.

One of the team, Craig Mace, who has been at the Cathedral five years, said much of their work was on the Victorian sections of the building.

"I cannot speak for everybody, but for me as a mason to be a stonemason at a Cathedral was always a goal for me.

"It is all interesting work. We do everything by hand; we work in a very traditional way."

And, as youngsters stopping to pick up a pair of goggles and a chisel to carve their initials in stone will find, not much has changed since the first masons carved out the intricate work of the building.

"We use the same processes that the masons would have used over hundreds and hundreds of years," he said. "Essentially it is the same - the process has not changed."

And that tradition goes right down to the mason's 'mark' which showed who had carved what, right back to the original stones in the ancient building - stones carved today will include the workers' mark just like the originals.

You might think the stonework would need quiet concentration while being worked on, but here those who pay entry to visit - though accompanied kids go free right up until October 31 - can stand and watch Craig and his fellow masons at work, as they carve out the designs on a finial or a pinnacle, before they are placed back in position, as well as getting a chat and a go.

Anybody - young or old - can have a go under Craig and the team's supervision this week until Friday, August 27.

The work on the Cathedral has some months to go, with the final section being the Christchurch Gate, which is seen by everyone, as it is the entrance to the precincts.

"That is something that we are looking forward to," said Craig. "It is a real show piece, as it is the first thing people see before they can get into the precincts."

To find out more about the free activity which is available until Friday, go to canterbury-cathedral.org

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