COUNTY villagers were joined by local MP Harriett Baldwin to celebrate the opening of new kitchens in their village hall.

And local people from Stanford Bridge gathered together to celebrate the completion of the £10,000 project, which was made possible by the Big Lottery Fund.

This is the second lottery-funded refurbishment project of the building, which used to be the village school and is now a community hub.

Mrs Baldwin was given a tour of the new kitchens by former High Sherriff and local landowner Sir Anthony Winnington.

She said: “Village halls provide an important resource for our more remote rural communities and it was great to see all the hard work that has been put in by volunteers to make this project a reality.

“I even had the chance to meet one local resident who once studied at the school and is now celebrating his 91st birthday. It is great to see people enjoying a lifetime of benefits from this vibrant community resource.”