A VILLAGE hall used by the cast and crew of long-running ITV series Heartbeat has won a £13,000 grant to improve facilities.

The Memorial Hall in West Tanfield, near Bedale, will now have an extension built to provide toilets for disabled people, an access ramp added and a hearing loop installed.

Members of the hall committee have received £3,000 from Hambleton District Council and £2,000 from the county council, as well as the £13,000 grant from Yorventure, the environmental body backed by Northallerton-based waste management company Yorwaste Limited.

The hall is used by playgroups, the local WI and for events associated with the nearby Thornborough Henges archaeological site.

It is also used as a base by the cast and crew of Heartbeat when they film in the area.

The latest improvement work should be completed by the end of January and will be followed by a mass painting and decorating session by local volunteers.

Chairman of the hall committee, Robert Trewhitt said: "We have managed to increase use of the hall and our aim now is to update our games room to provide better facilities for younger members of the community.

"The amount of money we could spend on improvements is bottomless, so we are always very grateful for any support we receive."