VICTORY is in sight for a group of residents who have campaigned for two years for improvements to their community centre.

A £5,000 grant from the National Lottery's Awards for All scheme will provide improved staging and lighting at Terrington village hall, in Ryedale.

It is the first Lottery aid to be awarded to the campaign to enhance the village hall, which had already raised more than £3,000 locally.

Dr Ken Wildey, chairman of the village hall trust, said: "Our hall was built in 1994, but it was designed as a sports hall and has very poor acoustics, so the loop system for the hearing impaired will be particularly welcome.

"We have a full programme of plays, music and touring shows, fundraising events and other gatherings and celebrations, which attract people from the Howardian area and beyond. Now we won't have to beg or borrow equipment every time."

The hall is used to stage community events, plays and music performances throughout the year and user groups contributed to the fundraising campaign.

Committee member Rod Taylor said: "This is great news because a lot of people have very kindly helped to raise this money.

"The latest work will hopefully start very soon and it should be completed in time for our autumn season."

Donations for the work came from an array of community groups, including Terrington Arts, the Terrington Players and the Terrington Village Choir.

"We needed around £8,500 to carry out the latest project and the Lottery grant has helped us achieve that," said Mr Taylor.

The village hall committee is now planning further improvements.

"The stage is very small and we only have one entrance at the side," said Mr Taylor.

"We want to build an extension at the back to enable performers to put on bigger shows. We don't know how much this will cost and how long it will take us to raise the money we need."