A VILLAGE community hall has been saved for future generations thanks to three years of grit and determination.

Bishop Middleham Village Hall reopened yesterday after a £70,000 refurbishment to extend and repair the building.

And thousands of pounds of further work is planned to enable the hall committee to update the outside of the building and decorate inside.

In 2002, the hall committee launched a fundraising appeal to stop the decline in the building's condition and keep local groups in one venue.

When the appeal was launched, the front entrance was falling down, the toilets were outdated, there was no storage space and the decoration had become so shabby that visitor numbers were dropping.

For more than three years, the committee persevered with its fundraising and secured donations - including £20,000 from the Countryside Agency, £10,000 from Thompson's Quarry and £9,000 from the Northern Rock - to carry out the work.

An extension for storage was built, new toilets were installed, disabled access created, a kitchen fitted and a number of other internal improvements carried out.

Steps outside were removed to deter gangs from congregating in the area and causing a nuisance.

Committee secretary Glenys Rowe said: "The hall was literally about to drop to pieces if we did nothing to stop it.

"Now we have a smart building where all the community groups, from local history and horticulture to children's groups and the over 60s, can meet and hold all their activities.

"They can be proud to bring visitors here now and feel comfortable and hopefully people will start to hold private functions in the hall.

"It is important for a small village to have a community facility like this, where we can get together."

Committee members are now appealing for volunteers to help run the hall.

Mrs Rowe said: "I don't think there is a committee member under 70.

"I think the hardest part is over, but we could do with a few younger volunteers to take on some tasks, to keep on top of running it, so it never gets to the point where such a major scheme is needed again."

To volunteer, contact Mrs Rowe on (01740) 651730.