FUNDRAISING efforts to help restore a vital part of village life in West Devon are all set to pick up pace.

A series of events to raise money for the Bratton Clovelly school room restoration project will be coming thick and fast in the coming months, as the Board of Trustees hope building work can start on the project by the end of the year.

The first event will be a barbecue in Bratton Clovelly village square on August 25, Bank Holiday Monday, from 4pm.

The 'parish plan' for Bratton Clovelly saw more than 80% of villagers highlighting the school restoration project as being of great importance to the village.

However, the project was hit by a major problem from the outset as no one knew who owned the land part of the school room was on.

After intensive work by the Board of Trustees, the Charities Commission concluded the school building belongs to the village as a registered charity.

Philip Worth, part of the Board of Trustees, said: 'The question of the land on which part of the school room is built has dogged the progress of the Trustees' plans and delayed our progress by more than twelve months.

'The decision by the Charities Commission has given a much needed boost to our efforts.'

The school room now belongs to the parish and its parishioners.

It will be held in trust by the Parish Church Council once the Exeter Diocese Church Commissioners have produced a 'pastoral scheme' with regard to the land.

The school room will then be leased from the Parish Church Council by the Trustees of the Bratton Clovelly school room charity with an annual 'peppercorn' rent for the next 35 years.

Mr Worth added: 'We are now in the position to press ahead with fundraising and are off to a splendid start with the gift of £1,000 bequeathed by the late Mary Fletcher, MBE, who lived in the parish for more than 50 years.

'We are further encouraged by the generous provision of a grant by West Devon Borough Council of £8,000.'

With work set to commence before the year's end, the Trustees' are hoping the project will be complete by the end of 2009.

Fundraising events will also be taking place in September and October with details to be provided nearer the time.