SALWARPE'S village hall is set to benefit from a top refurbishment after receiving major funding for the project.

The popular hall off Copcut Lane will get a makeover thanks to nearly £150,000 worth of grants and investments from four separate sources.

Building work is set to start in June and will see the venue provide disabled facilities and access as required under the Disability Discrimination Act. The building will also be given improved heating and soundproofing.

Salwarpe Village Hall committee chairman David Verity said: "This is great news for the village and the people that use the hall. I am highly delighted that this work can go ahead; hopefully, it will secure the long-term future of the hall."

Major work will also be carried out to create a self-contained meeting room complete with new kitchen and toilet facilities.

The hall, which was built in 1973, is currently in use most days for a variety of activities ranging from yoga and dancing classes to fetes and weddings. It is hoped that the new proposals will help ensure that the hall stays at the centre of community life and that all residents in the area can use the facility even more widely.

"The work will see two separate rooms created that can be used at the same time. A lot more people should also be able to use the hall thanks to the refurbishment," said Mr Verity. "We hope we can organise more sports at the hall and courses like IT courses and other events."

Funding for the project has been provided by The Big Lottery Fund, DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Wychavon Council and Welcome to Our Future, an organisation that manages the Severn Waste Environment Fund in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.