A VILLAGE has answered critics that say it is part of a dying dale by raising more than £170,000 to pour new life into the community.

After two years of fundraising, the wraps will come off the renovated village hall at Eastgate, in Weardale, next month.

The bulk of money for the work, £145,000, has been provided by the National Lottery's Community Fund, with the rest, including £2,000 from Blue Circle Cement's Weardale works, being donated by private businesses.

"What we have managed to achieve is a vital centre for the use of the whole community," said Margaret Gibbons, secretary of the Eastgate Village Hall Association.

"We are very fortunate to have a fine, traditional building, which we hope will help us forge links with other villages and organisations in the dale.

"The building is vital if we are going to expand community life here."

Apart from general repairs, most of the money has been spent on building a new kitchen and providing car parking space next to the hall.

The building, which was originally a school, was constructed at the same time as the parish church, in the late- 1800s by the wealthy Hildyard family, who lived across the River Wear at Horsley Hall.

When the number of pupils dropped to seven in 1958, the school closed and the building was given to the village by the Hildyards.

It is appropriate that the renovated hall will be reopened on Saturday, September 8, by Robin Hildyard, who now lives near Ashwell, in Hertfordshire.

Meanwhile, the village hall association is hoping to mount a small exhibition of old photographs of Eastgate, including some featuring the hall and the old school.

Anyone wishing to help can contact Margaret Gibbons on (01388) 517561.