One of Somerset's most unique windmills has had its sails repaired following a two-year wait.

The Ashton Windmill, at Chapel Allerton, near Wedmore, has been standing since the 18th century and is thought to have been built on the site of an older windmill.

In May 2007, one of the sails – itself dating back to the 1970s – was broken off in high winds, and inspectors who examined the remaining three sails concluded that they all needed replacing.

It was hoped to have the sails replaced in time for National Mills Weekend, which took place on May 9 and 10.

However, high winds prevented specialist construction company Cotswold Millwrights Ltd from doing the job until Tuesday last week.

Each sail has been fitted with a lightning conductor to discharge any current hitting the pointy structure, and David Dixon, chairman of the Custodians of Ashton Windmill, revealed one of the old sails contained a bird's nest.

He said: "We're lucky to have it. The contractor came up a few weeks ago, and they took down the sails with ropes and pulleys.

"They later put the new sails up with a crane.

"They look great, absolutely terrific – even better than the old ones with some extra new little details."

The custodians consist of more than 40 people from families in nearby villages, and they have been opening the windmill to the public on an annual basis, from Easter to September, for 30 years.

The windmill is owned by Sedgemoor District Council, and the repair work, which cost about £30,000, was paid for with the aid of a grant from the mill division of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings.

Access to the interior, where visitors climb steep steps to see how corn and animal feeds were ground up between two great stones, is allowed on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, and at the same times on Wednesdays in July and August.

Admission is free, but donations to support the cost of maintaining the building are welcome.