A HUGE refurbishment programme for a 55-year-old village hall that serves two neighbouring communities is now underway.

Work has begun on the ambitious project at Topcliffe and Asenby village hall, near Thirsk and is expected to take more than three months to complete.

Local building contractor Paul Thompson Ltd., based in Ainderby Steeple near Northallerton, successfully competed against three other firms to win the £100,000 contract.

The main building work includes a substantial extension to accommodate new toilet facilities, extra space for community activities and new storage areas.

There will also be improved access for people with disabilities, an improved entrance lobby and enhancements to the external appearance of the building.

Once that work is completed, a range of additional smaller jobs, including new lighting, refurbishment of the dance floor, redecoration and installation on an audio visual system, will get underway to further improve the facilities.

Over the past 15 months members of the village hall committee have raised £125,000 to pay for the refurbishment.

Chairman Andrew Eckersley said: “Our village hall is getting a fresh look and much improved facilities that will meet the needs of the local community and of which everyone can be rightly proud.

“The hall, which is shared between the neighbouring villages of Topcliffe and Asenby, is the main centre of community activity.

“The work getting underway this week will ensure we have a much improved facility that locals and other users of our village hall, can enjoy and appreciate.

“Without the support of our hard working committee and a range of very generous grant-giving bodies, we wouldn’t be able to undertake this work, so I am very grateful to them all.”

He added: “The main contract will take around twelve weeks to complete and then we will have to tackle the smaller jobs in the main hall.

“We aim to keep the hall open for business as much as possible, but inevitably there will be occasions when the builder will best be able to operate without people milling about. We’ll be making sure that all users are fully informed of our plans.”

In addition to the grants awarded by charitable organisations, local people have dug deep to help raise funds, particularly via a “Brick in the Hall" scheme and also by running events.

There is still an opportunity to purchase foundation stones at £25, full bricks at £10 or half-bricks at £5, but the scheme will be closed on May 1.