ST Michael's Church in Broadway is to become more community friendly by the end of this year, with a little help from villagers.

Volunteers have been working hard with Canon Peter Burch to get plans drawn up for smart glass screens to partition off the back of the church. Two cosy meeting rooms will then be formed with the facility to draw out the screens to make one larger hall if needed.

Mr Burch said: "It is a very exciting project which we have been working on for about three years. We have permission to move the font from the entrance at the back to the front of the church, which will be more convenient for our congregation.

"The screens will then form rooms at the back which can be used for small or larger groups for a modest sum. We are also planning a disabled access and the addition of a kitchenette.

"When the work is finished we want as many people as possible of all ages to use the new church rooms no matter what their religion."

Secretary of the fund-raising group Ken Grant said: "Altogether we need to raise about £60,000.

"We have already received a Severn Waste Environmental grant of £5,000, and we have some church funds to draw on but we need at least another £30,000 to cover the cost. We have also applied for grants and will be sending out letters shortly to all those who we think might be able to help."

An invitation has gone to villagers to attend a morning of prayer and the chance to see the plans and talk to the architect Anthea Jackson.

The event is to be held at St Michael & All Angels on Saturday, May 11, between 10.30am until 12 noon.