A VILLAGE hall has been wrapped up in a giant scarf as part of a massive fundraising drive to save the 19th century hall from crumbling.

Supporters of Booth Memorial Institute in Catterick Village are desperately trying to raise £150,000 to complete major repairs of the roof, windows and structure of the building which serves the whole community.

Margaret Tickner, one of the Friends of the Booth Hall group set up in December, said the most recent event on Saturday, July 4, and involved local children and Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.

She said: “We had a fantastic day on Saturday when we wrapped the hall with a scarf made up of 713 knitted squares.

“We got the idea from a similar project at the Redcar Beacon which allowed people to buy a knitted square and thought it would be fun.

“After three months of knitting, year three children from Michael Syddall Primary School helped us to carry the scarf and wrap it around the hall.”

The Friends of the Booth Hall have raised £12,000 towards their target with £4,000 from Catterick Village Parish Council.

The trust has also applied for grants to help it achieve the target so the extensive refurbishments of the hall, dating from 1896, can be done.

Improvements include a new roof, new windows and repairing cracked stonework.

Mr Sunak said: "Catterick village hall is a vital part of this vibrant community and brings people together every day.

“The knitted scarf is a lovely way to raise funds for the new roof and it was immensely fun to help 'wrap' the hall."