Aberystwyth University has thanked former students for contributing to its Old College appeal, saying it is because of their support that further cash has been secured.

Following the news that the university has received £10m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £6m from the Welsh Government, Prof Elizabeth Treasure, vice-chancellor of the university, said former students had also donated more than £800,000 to the appeal.

Addressing a room of invited guests and members of the press who gathered at the Old College on Tuesday, 14 January, who had been invited to hear news of the multi-million-pound grants, Prof Treasure said: “£2.6m has been raised from previous Welsh Government funding and charitable trusts, including £850,000 from alumni. That means we have £18.6m of the £26.6m needed and today we can launch the delivery phase of the project.”

An email sent to former students on Tuesday added: “Your support has been crucial in triggering these major grants and helping us plan ahead with confidence.

"I am deeply grateful to all our alumni and friends for your early support.

“Your donations and all your messages of encouragement helped evidence the importance of this project to the Heritage Fund and Welsh Government and our partners, National Museum Wales, Hay Festival and National Library of Wales.”

But a further £8m is needed to complete the university’s ambitious plans to turn the Grade I listed seafront building - arguably Aberystwyth’s most iconic - into a centre for learning, culture and enterprise.

Prof Treasure added: “Further fundraising remains crucial. Donations and trust grants will be invited right up to our reopening. Thank you for all your support. I am thrilled this ambition is well on the way to becoming a reality.”

For more on what to expect from the plans for the Old College redevelopment, including lots of artists' impressions of how it will look, see this week’s Cambrian News, on sale now