AFTER more than five years of fundraising and planning, work has finally begun on the most important public re-building project in the centre of Bere Alston for many years.

Following the appointment of Plymouth -based DAB Building Contractors by Bere Alston Regeneration Partnership (Beregen) as its main contractors, DAB have began to remove the rear of the 100-year-old parish hall which will allow for the construction of a new two-storey annexe.

The £400,000, 22- week contract will provide a new childcare centre, IT suite, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and council chamber, all linked to the existing hall and stage. The project has been designed by Tavistock-based architect Steve Whettem.

The project received £270,000 from Devon County Council, £95,000 from Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund, £50,000 from West Devon Borough Council, £20,000 from Bere Alston Parish Council and £20,000 from villagers' fundraising.

An additional application for a grant from the Rank Foundation was successful, raising £87,000. Partial use of this funding will enable the youth worker Jen Potts to continue her work at the hall for a further three years.

DAB construction was formed in 1985 and specialises in community projects — 12 months ago they completed an extension to Bere Alston Primary School and are engaged in the construction of a new veterinary surgery in Yelverton.