A FUNDRAISING campaign to improve Sampford Courtenay's village hall is going from strength to strength.

The village hall committee has been busy raising money to fund a new extension on the back of the building which will house a disabled toilet, storeroom and a brand new kitchen.

As well as holding a variety of events to keep the money coming in, the committee has managed to secure thousands of pounds' worth of grants from a number of councils and organisations.

Marilyn Weeks, secretary of the committee, said: 'The village hall committee started the project with £25,000 of its own money that had been raised over a number of years and we have been holding varied events to raise further money to go towards the project.

'Once you start a building project, costs do escalate as you come across problems that have to be overcome.

'To date we have raised around £70,000 with the total spend expected to be in the region of £85,000.

'We are extremely grateful to the organisations that have provided us with grants and the people who have supported us by buying draw tickets, attending events or making a cake.

'We have been very fortunate in that the main hall is still usable, so we have been able to hold events to keep raising money.

'The kitchen had got in a very poor state so that has been knocked down and an extension is being built to the rear of the main building.

'This will provide a disabled toilet, store room and a new kitchen. Obviously we are operating without a kitchen at the moment, but we have been able to work around this.

'Once the money is raised we shall all breathe a sigh of relief! The builders are being paid as we go along and when the extension is completed it is hoped to hold a grand opening event, possibly some time next year.'

The latest fundraiser was a raffle for a hamper donated by Clive and Sarah Tabiner from North Tawton.

The winner was Miriam Found from North Tawton, a regular attendee of the hall's monthy bingo night.