A CAMPAIGN to improve a picturesque moorland village and draw in more visitors begins this weekend.

Tourism in Hutton-le-Hole suffered badly during last year's foot-and-mouth crisis.

Now residents and visitors are being given a chance to help raise money for work to upgrade the village hall at a fun day this weekend.

And behind-the-scenes work is also set to pay off with the opening of a new footbridge and the launch of plans to paint more than 2,000 public fenc-posts along the main roads through the village.

The projects have all been launched with a view to upgrading the appearance of Hutton-le-Hole as it recovers from the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"The village was badly hit last year. Many of us rely on tourism but no one came," said village hall secretary Brian Simmonds.

"Income for the upkeep of the village hall dropped significantly last year because commercial bookings were cancelled."

In a bid to claw back cash lost during last year, a village hall fun day is taking place on Sunday from noon to 3.30pm.

"We need about £1,500 to repair guttering and to fit a new fire alarm system," said hall chairman Kate Seeking.

"We're going to have a range of traditional attractions including a duck race and a fancy dress competition."

One of the highlights of the day will be the grand opening of a new footbridge over Hutton Beck in the centre of the village.

"The bridge, made from oak, had fallen into disrepair, but improvement work carried out by the national parks authority has just been completed," said Mrs Seeking.

"We're also launching plans to re-paint more than a mile of low fence-posts which run through the centre of the village."