A BUILDING project in Cookhill which took years of fundraising and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds has been presented with a design award.

Cookhill Village Hall has received a Distinction in Building award run by Wychavon District Council, with members of the public helping to choose the winners.

The hall restoration and extension was praised for its high standard of design, craftsmanship and sustainable construction.

The £325,000 scheme includes new disabled facilities, a new entrance, toilets, store room, bar store, a new pitched roof, double glazed windows, new electrics and lighting and extensive refurbishment throughout.

The money was raised through years of community fundraising as well as grants from organisations including the Department for Envir-onment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), The Country-side Agency, Cookhill Parish Council, Awards for All and the landfill tax grants scheme.

Village hall committee chairman Eileen Payne said: "We're delighted to have won the award. The committee and Cookhill villagers love it, but its great to have Wychavon District Council praise it as well.

"We're very grateful to the former chair of the parish council, Bob Pinfield, who nominated the building.

"Only eight buildings received awards so we're very flattered that ours was one of them."

The hall will host a concert by the West Mercia Constab-ulary Band this Saturday from 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £7 and are available from Mrs Payne on 892225.