Bletchley Park restoration short on funds

England's historic Bletchley Park needs a financial helping hand to save several buildings used by World War II code breakers.

Bletchley is home to a rebuilt version of the legendary Colossus code-breaking machine, which cracked the Nazi Enigma code and played a major part in ending the war in 1945.

The Bletchley Park Trust needs about a million pounds (almost $2 million) to repair the roof of the park's mansion and a similar amount to restore three huts used by legendary figures such as Alan Turing.

Trust director Simon Greenish told CNET News.com sister site Silicon.com: "The fact is, we've got old buildings here, and they all need attention."

The trust is in talks with the National Lottery Fund and others to secure funding, and Greenish is confident that the funds can be raised.

"We've actually got some lines of approach which are beginning, I think, to potentially come good," he said. "But in the meantime, we've got to try and make sure these buildings stay together, and that is the challenge at the moment."

The trust also has exciting plans to develop the park and save it for future generations.

"In the longer term, I think we've got good plans. I think the future's looking quite good," Greenish said. "Overall, we're looking at millions (of pounds) in order to turn this site into something that's really got a long-term sustainable future," he added.

The trust relies on visitors (which have increased by 40 percent in the last two years), event hosting, and donations to run the park. It aims to make it into a world-class heritage site and educational center.

Tim Ferguson of Silicon.com reported from London.