Two of Pembroke Dock's most important historic buildings are being given a major facelift.

Work is progressing well on phase one of the restoration of the grade two-listed Garrison Chapel in the Dockyard.

The project is being carried out under the Pembroke Dock Townscape Heritage Initiative. And the eastern hangar - one of a pair of unique dockyard hangars once used to house wartime Sunderland flying-boats - is having a £900,000 refit.

The refurbishment is being undertaken by the Milford Docks Company, with Objective One funding.

The chapel was built in about 1831 and is the second most important building in the town after Paterchurch Tower. It was used as a chapel by the Royal Navy and later became an RAF Church and Garrison Theatre.

Post-war, the building was a cinema and many local people still remember spending enjoyable evenings there.

Its next role was a Motor Museum run by Chester Smith up until 1982 and there had been hopes in recent years that it could house the town's museum.

Work is being carried out by Welsh Heritage Construction, supervised by Acanthus Holden Architects, of Pembroke, and the project should be finished by early 2005.

The eastern hangar is one of the most significant architectural and maritime structures in Pembrokeshire and firstly housed the bi-plane flying-boats and, from 1938 to 1957, the Sunderland flying-boats.

"The aim of the restoration is to retain the building's historic character and create a modern manufacturing facility," said David Davies, of the Townscape Heritage Initiative.

Dawnus Construction Ltd is the main contractor and work should be completed by the end of November.

Local aviation historian and member of the Pembroke Dock Museum Trust, John Evans, said: "It is very encouraging that these listed buildings are being restored and it is amazing they are still in such good condition after all these years."