THE BATTLE to save village halls from ruin has been taken to Downing Street by Swindon South MP Julia Drown.

She presented Prime Minister Tony Blair with a petition, signed by 4,000 Swindon and Wiltshire people, demanding more money is pumped into the buildings.

Until recently many communities relied on funding from two lottery funds the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund to keep the halls in good repair.

But now the two have merged, sparking fear among campaigners that there will no longer be a reliable cash-pot to make urgent repairs and upgrades.

Swindon and Wiltshire communities are currently looking for £6 million from the Lottery.

Wroughton's Ellendune Commu-nity Centre, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next week, needs £100,000 to build an extension and improve heating.

But after hearing that funding was in doubt Coun Christine Spooncer, who is chairman of the Ellendune Trust, took the decision to raise some of the cash.

"So far we've managed to collect £20,000 to help pay for the extension and we'll have to put the heating, which will cost around £25,000 on hold until we know more from the Lottery fund," said Coun Spooncer, who also sits on Wroughton Parish Council.

"I was very disappointed to learn that funding was being put in doubt.

"A range of people use it from the local Brownies to artists and couples, who want to hold wedding receptions.

"We find it hard to understand why our funding is being threatened. We involve the whole community. Many other causes don't.

"I remember a time when a lot of money went into the halls."

Elsewhere residents in Wanbor-ough are trying to find £40,000 to make roof repairs and install a new kitchen.

In 1996, the parish council was given £303,000 of Lottery cash for a new sports pavilion.

Around the same time Bishopstone village hall also bagged £23,000 for refurbishments.

Ms Drown stressed the important that village halls play in communities.

She said: "They are often the heart of a rural community and more needs to be done to secure funding for these locally owned and locally managed assets."

Kevin Shoesmith