A MAJOR scheme is on the drawing board to improve the facilities and use of a village hall built more than 70 years ago.

A management committee has been set up to mastermind the scheme for the brick-built hall at Amotherby, in Ryedale.

The building, which is also known as Appleton-le-Street parish hall, serves a wide area, including Swinton, Hiddenley, Swinton Grange and Easthorpe, as well as Amotherby and Appleton-le-Street.

Set at the crossroads in the village, alongside the Malton to Helmsley road, the hall also has two tennis courts and a pen for housing stray animals in its grounds.

But while it also boasts a badminton court, large kitchen, committee room, a stage as well as a large hall, it needs refurbishing and the cost is expected to be in the region of £40,000.

Now the management committee is seeking grants as well as raising money within the community through fundraising events.

To evaluate the potential of the hall, a questionnaire was given to each household in the area, with half of all the houses replying.

Committee member Beryl Cussons said: "We got some very positive feedback which gave us great encouragement."

She said: "We have brought new people on to the management committee which will also act as the events committee.

"We are drawing up a plan of action to encourage the many organisations in the area to consider using the hall for functions.

"We have facilities for table tennis, dances, horticultural shows, car boot sales and sport."

Extensions are planned to provide more storage space in the hall - the lack of which is currently one of its biggest problems.

Several fundraising events are planned for the next few months, including a car boot sale on Easter Monday.

The management committee is also trying to solve the mystery of the initials found carved into two of the foundation stones at the front of the hall, one carrying the letters G MG, the other the letters CB EAB.