Works to improve Melplash Village Hall are continuing, with the refurbishment of the hall’s kitchen nearly complete.

The committee have organised the kitchen refurbishment and, although a local builder did the more technical jobs, some committee members were able to do quite a lot of the remedial works to the floors, which were quite badly rotten.

Over the past five years, the committee has replaced all the internal walls in the main body of the hall and, apart from the skim of plaster, all the work was carried out by committee members.

For the next project, the committee is hoping to refurbish the men’s and ladies’ toilets, subject to available funds.

In addition to their own fundraising, members received a pledge from the Palmers Community fund to contribute to the cost of new equipment.

A spokesman for the Melplash Village Hall Committee said: “In the long term we would like to rebuild the hall since it is now 90 years old. We did get planning permission two years ago, but the Lottery fund sadly is no longer financing capital projects like village halls, so funding is a real issue.

“In the meantime, we are trying to keep the existing hall going and to make vital improvements as and when funds are available.

“We would like to thank Clare and Jamie, the landlords of the Half Moon, who are donating the proceeds of monthly pub quiz nights to help with the improvements. By their hard work and enthusiasm, they are turning the Half Moon into a proper village pub again which supports the local community.

“We wish them every success as they complete their first year in Melplash.”