FUNDRAISERS are within £125,000 of paying for their new church hall.

The old St John’s Church Hall in Meadowfield, near Durham, was destroyed by fire in March 2014.

A £500,000 plan to create a new building is moving ahead, with a pre-planning application having been submitted to Durham County Council.

A further £1,300.10 towards the cash target was raised through a charity night held at Browney club in March.

A family fun day will be held at Brandon footballers’ club from noon on Saturday, August 22.

The North East Pet Party will bring snakes, spiders, geckos and other animals along. There will also be tombolas, stalls and refreshments. Entry costs 50p.

A music night will be held at the Royal British Legion club in Meadowfield on Friday, September 25, at 7pm. Tickets are £3.

Lesley Baxter, treasurer of the parochial church council (PCC), said the campaign was now around £125,000 short but three grant applications are being considered.

Fundraisers are also considering setting themselves up as a charity.

Ms Baxter thanked everyone for their support.

Designs for the new hall were put on show in January and in March the PCC decided it will be called St John’s Hall Meadowfield.

The new hall will be a modern, single-storey design with a hall, kitchen, office and disabled toilet.

For more information, to get involved or to buy tickets for the music night, call Ms Baxter on 07846-542-035.