A VILLAGE hall is to receive a makeover, with the help of £150,000 in grants and the proceeds of various fund-raising events.

The hall at Salwarpe, near Droitwich, was built in 1973 and is used most days for activities ranging from yoga and dance to fetes and weddings.

Improvements will include disabled access, public address and loop systems, better heating, sound insulation and a self-contained meeting room with kitchen and toilet.

Funds have come from the Big Lottery, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Wychavon District Council and Welcome to Our Future, the organisation managing the Severn Waste Environmental Fund.

The village hall committee has raised about £10,000 through events such as barn dances, an auction of promises and an evening of clairvoyance.

"We've a big room with a stage and a committee room, which is not really usable if there is anything noisy in the main room,'' said chairman David Verity.

"When it has been extended and insulated we hope to use it for IT courses and perhaps a small table tennis club."

Work is due to start in June and take about six months to complete.