TOP crooner Jamie Cullum has passed on his best wishes to Hullavington after the village hall burnt down last month.

The 24-year-old sensation used to play at the hall when he was honing his talent as a youngster growing up in the village

He said: "I have very fond memories of the village hall from playschool, to performances by the Hullavington Players to concerts, some of which I played at myself.

"It is a terrible thing to happen and I am very sad about it. Makes me remember what a great place Hullavington was to grow up in."

Mr Cullum will be playing the Cheltenham Jazz Festival this weekend after a whistle stop tour of European venues this month.

His album Twentysomething rose to a high of four in the British Album charts in February after his acclaimed duet with Katie Melua at the Brit Awards in February.

Chairman of the village hall management committee, David Hunt said: "Those are very nice comments by him. It is good to know he appreciated his life growing up in Hullavington. It is a very good village to grow up in."

Mr Hunt said the village had not asked him to play a benefit gig.

He said: "I think that will have to come from him. If that is what he wanted to do we would be delighted."

The village was left in shock after their hall, the village's main meeting point, was gutted in an inferno overnight last month.

But Mr Hunt said village was rallying together to cope.

The Happy Caterpillars have found a new home at the primary school. The parish council is using the church for meetings and the bowls club is using a barn for matches.