A PANORAMIC view of the Oxfordshire countryside was reopened to visitors yesterday.

Appropriately, Faringdon Folly’s first open day of the year was on April’s Fools Day.

Among those first up the 100ft-high tower were Gay and Richard Danbury who were making their annual trip to the popular landmark.

The tower will now welcome visitors on the first and third Sundays of the month until October 21, between 11am and 5pm.

Entry costs £3 for adults or £1 for under-16s, and the Faringdon Folly Tower Trust which now looks after it said last year’s visitors raised thousands for its maintenance.

In an end-of-year report, trustees noted the average number of visitors on open days in 2017 was 300

All the takings help to cover the costs of maintaining the 80-year-old folly tower, built by Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 14th Baron Berners (known more generally as Lord Berners) while he was living at Faringdon House.

Among the most urgent repairs now ongoing are those on the 21 windows and places where water is getting in.

The trustees are also planning to redecorate the Lantern and Belvedere rooms.

For more information visit faringdonfolly.org.uk