Splash the cash and sponsor an ugly mug

The pinnacles are on the roof of the lavatorium (the place in the cloisters where the monks would have washed). Repairs to the windows to the cloisters, which were vandalised, were also completed recently.

The stones of the four pinnacles were particularly worn, with little detail left. This has meant that new carvings could be designed. The cathedral's master mason, Pascal Mychalysin, has supervised and carved many of the images.

The last pinnacle commemorates four people who have played significant parts in the restoration of the cathedral.

It portrays two former clerks of work, Tom Dorrington and Alan Norton; the former architect, Basil Comely; and a former canon of the cathedral , Canon Norman Chatfield who was affectionately known as the Fabric Canon because his responsibilities included the care of the cathedral's fabric (building) .

The work has been completely funded by the Gloucester Cathedral Trust, which was previously known as the 900 Year Fund. The money raised by the trust is now dwindling and the Chapter through the trust is seeking new money to fund the continuing work.

The Dean, the Very Rev Nicholas Bury, said: "I am very pleased this work is complete. It demonstrates once again the skill of our cathedral masons and restores another area of the cathedral's masonry to its former glory."

The next project, which will allow the carving skills of the masons to be demonstrated, is the production of ten gargoyles (water spouts) for the parapet of the south aisle. There are two in each bay.

The Chapter agreed the theme of the gargoyles as "Give glory to God". The Chapter's development manager, Anne Strathie is seeking sponsors for each gargoyle at £2,500 per gargoyle.

She said: " I hope people will be prepared to help in this way. They will be able to show their friends that they were able to play their part in the restoration of the cathedral and point to their gargoyle!"

Pictured: One of the new pinnacles at Gloucester Cathedral