WORK has started on a £375,000 new village hall in Bowerhill after a 25-year wait. The groundwork on the new building began on Tuesday and the village hall trust hopes it will be ready by Christmas.

Trust Chairman Pamela Hartley said: "It is a huge relief because the present village hall is on its last legs. When it's open we plan to have the biggest New Year's Eve party Bowerhill has ever seen."

A public meeting established the need for a purpose-built hall in the village in 1978.

Villagers raised funds to buy a third-hand temporary building, which was put up in 1983, but funding problems have meant it has not been replaced until now.

The long-awaited village hall is part of the new Bowerhill East housing development.

Developers Bloor Homes and Westbury Homes have put up £252,644 while the community has raised more than £80,000 towards the final cost.