SEAGRY residents are pinning their hopes on lottery funding to carry out extensive renovations to modernise their 130-year-old village hall.

Building surveyor and planning consultant Ian Rea said he was applying for a lottery grant on behalf of the management committee and trustees of the Upper Seagry and Startley Village Hall.

He said the committee wanted to build an extension to provide the hall with new toilet and kitchen facilities, and also increase the car park. The proposed works would cost an estimated £100,000.

Mr Rea said extension proposals were originally drawn up ten years ago. The hall's management committee had applied to North Wiltshire District Council for permission to renew them.

Mr Rea said the committee had managed to raise £25,000 over the past ten years, but had already spent £13,000 on heating, fire-precautions and upgrading the existing kitchen and toilet facilities to meet health and safety standards.

He said: "The lottery fund is a Godsend to small village halls. It would take us more than 40 years to collect all the money we need."

Mr Rea lived in Upper Seagry for many years, but resigned from his position as a village hall committee member after he moved to Draycott Cerne, near Sutton Benger. He has retained a keen interest in helping the committee to achieve its aims.

"I was there when the plans were started, and I'd like to see it through," he said.

Management committee chairman Clare Clilverd also said it would be extremely difficult for the village to raise the money needed.

She said: "It's hard in a small community to keep tapping the same people for money. The school raises funds, the play group needs money to survive and we have to keep the village hall going. The hall is used now more than it's ever been."

She appealed to residents to support the hall by becoming members of the management committee. Anyone who would like to help with the hall should contact Mrs Clilverd on (01249) 720012.