A VILLAGE turned down by two of Britain's largest funding bodies is today celebrating a £400,000 "do-it-yourself" success.

Both the National Lottery and Sport England turned down pleas for cash help from Bishop Monkton, near Ripon, when residents wanted to create a village hall and sports field.

But instead of letting the rejections shatter their plans, the management committee decided to forge ahead regardless.

Today, they have invited the village to join them for the opening of the complex after 12 years of effort.

The development has finally been completed following a mammoth effort by people in the village and a bit of property enterprise.

The sale of two redundant community buildings, the old Women's Institute Hall and the Mechanics' Institute, gave the appeal a big boost and was augmented by successful applications to various funds.

But the majority of the money came from private donations and the almost non-stop local fundraising efforts, including an annual hog roast, quiz nights, an autumn auction and a weekly meat raffle.

The chairman of the village hall and playing fields management committee, Mervyn Beecroft, said: "It has been an incredible achievement and everyone in Bishop Monkton has reason to be proud of what we have done." He thanked the team of volunteers who, he said, had worked round the clock to help build, paint, decorate and refit the hall in time for today's opening.

One of the first events in the hall will be the pantomime Cinderella, from February 10 to 12.