A VICTORIAN village hall that has remained virtually unchanged since it was built more than 100 years ago is to be brought up-to-date with a £50,000 National Lottery grant.

With outside lavatories and no hot running water, Copley Village Hall, in Teesdale, has been in serious need of refurbishment for many years.

But now the hall's committee hopes a £50,000 grant from the National Lottery's Community Fund will help to breath new life into the building, which serves as a focal point for activities for the community's population of more than 400 people.

The grant is to be spent on building an extension and revamping the existing building.

Secretary David Whitfield said the committee has been trying to raise funds for improvements for several years.

He said: "There's no central point any more apart from the village hall.

"There is a pub, but nothing else, so the former Literary Institute is Copley's only resource for leisure, social and educational activities.

"This grant aid is a welcome opportunity to bring it into the 21st Century.

"It has certainly been a long-time coming, but we have got there in the end."

The former Literary Institute was built in 1898 and a large proportion of the money will be used to make the building accessible to the disabled, in line with current legislation.

An extension will also be added with washing facilities and toilets. The kitchen is to be completely revamped with disabled users in mind.

The total cost of the work comes to £60,000, with the village hall committee providing £8,000 raised from raffles, coffee mornings and other events.

Ideas for new uses for the hall have already been fielded, after the committee sent out questionnaires to villagers, for their suggestions.

David Whitfield said: "We hope that the improved facilities might get people interested in joining groups run at the hall, or that other people might start up new groups."

Work should begin this summer and a grand re-opening ceremony is already being planned, which should hopefully take place before Christmas.