30506A PARISH council chairman said a village hall was worth the 27-year wait after the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire officially opened the facility on Wednesday.

Cllr Mike Mills said organisers were at Bowerhill Village Hall, in Halifax Road, until 10pm on Tuesday ensuring the day went without a hitch.

Lord Lieutenant John Bush OBE, who unveiled a plaque at the £400,000 hall, was greeted by a guard of honour of Bowerhill Cubs and Beavers. Wing Cmdr Julia Faulkes, from RAF Lyneham, was invited to unveil an original RAF Melksham gate badge mounted on a wall, marking Bowerhill's military heritage.

Cllr Mills said: "It was all worth it to see it all open and everything working well, with lots of new groups coming in. The Lord Lieutenant was delighted to come as he wants to get involved in community events."