Marlborough Town Hall is to get a makeover costing more than £200,000 in time for the town's 800th anniversary celebrations next year.

On Monday councillors were persuaded to accept a tender for the external repair and development without delay.

They were told that a decision must be made immediately so that the work will be finished in June in time for the celebrations of the anniversary of King John's charter.

Three tenders were opened at the full Town Council meeting.

Councillors accepted a tender from a local contractor who will not be named until contracts have been signed.

There was one lower bid but the council's architect Malcolm Ward said he was not certain that at the price quoted the firm could deliver the quality the council expected.

Deputy mayor and chairman of the 2004 Committee Coun Graham Francis said Mr Ward had given the council a very detailed briefing on the tenders.

The council's finance chairman Coun David Parker said: "If you delay this by even one week then our target of getting this work done by the end of May will be lost."

Coun Francis said: "If the scaffolding (on the town hall) is still in place after the end of May we would be in very serious trouble as far as the 2004 celebrations are concerned."

Nine councillors voted in favour of accepting the tender of £209,159 (£177,876 plus VAT). Three abstained, Coun Allen, Coun George Worby and the mayor, Coun Bill Cavill.