WITH building work beginning on site this week, Spreyton parishioners are now just seven months away from a new village hall.

After a two-year campaign to get this new venue, Spreyton Village Trust was awarded £193,000 grant from the National Lotteries Charity Board in April which will pay for the bulk of its cost.

The contract for the building scheme, which totals £220,400, has been given to the Holsworthy-based JE Stacey & Co Ltd, who moved in on Monday.

Fundraising co-ordinator Joe Hall said the next seven months would give the community a great opportunity to look to the future and decide how best to use the new facilities.

'Apart from the new hall we will have a large brand new kitchen, changing rooms, a good-sized meeting room, a purpose built bar and a patio with one of the best views in Devon,' he said.

'It is such a relief to get to this stage which has taken two and a half years — everybody is beginning to feel really excited now.'

The building will replace an old army shed which has been regularly used by almost all of Spreyton's 250 residents for everything from badminton to a school gym, place of worship and parent and toddler sessions.

Private parties, wedding receptions and new club activities will be added to the uses list of the new hall.

With the money now in place the Spreyton Village Trust will be looking for further grant funding to install additional things such as new children's playground equipment, resurfacing and extending the tennis court, stage lighting, wooden benches for the patio and table tennis tables.