A DALES community was yesterday celebrating a £50,000 windfall which will help to give its town hall a facelift.

The Newcastle-based Northern Rock Foundation has offered the money for the refurbishment of the hall at St John's Chapel, Weardale.

Last month, the hall's management committee announced it had received a grant of £300,000 from the National Lottery's Community Fund.

The money will be spent on essential repairs, heating, extra rooms and an extension to the stage, which is used by local groups for concerts. Part of it has also been earmarked for an imaginative plan to install a digital video disc cinema in the hall. The scheme will cost more than £500,000.

Sue Tallentire, vice-chairwoman of the management committee, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this latest grant.

"It is recognition that people and organisations care about what happens in rural communities like this. We aim to make the hall an essential hub for the whole community here in Upper Weardale."