VILLAGERS are celebrating after receiving a £57,000 windfall to bring their village hall back to life.

The hall in High Coniscliffe is more than 100 years old and is a focus for that village, Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent.

Once a hive of activity, wear and tear took its toll and the number of events gradually declined.

The extra pressure of fundraising for St Edwin's church, a grade II listed building next to the hall, also affected funds for the hall.

In 1998 a small group of residents formed a fundraising committee and in the first year raised £16,000, which was used to renovate the kitchen and toilet areas.

But it became clear that the entire building, inside and out, needed renovating and the chances looked bleak.

However, Cleartop, a waste management company, has now come to the rescue with a £57,000 grant through the landfill tax credit scheme which will cover all the work.

Mr Dick Lawson, chairman of the fundraising committee, said the scale of the work needed had been too great for the three small villages.

"But this grant is fantastic. We can move with confidence into the new millennium and the hall into an enhanced roll as a focal point for our communities.

"We are immensely grateful to Cleartop for recognising our needs and supporting our cause."

The work includes replacing the roof and windows, re-pointing the stonework, new heating and lighting systems, redecoration and improvements to the rear yard and boundary wall.

The work is expected to be complete by next spring.