YOUNGSTERS are to benefit after the hard work of a fundraising group has brought a long-awaited building project to fruition.

Work has started on an extension to Halwill Parish Hall, after years of fundraising by the Halwill Hall Development Group. More than £90,000 has been raised including cash from grant funding.

The project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas with Defra as the Managing Authority.

Other funds have been provided by Halwill Parish Council, Scallywags Pre-School, the Devon County Councillor Grant Scheme, the Garfield Weston Charitable Foundation and the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation.

The room will be predominantly used by Scallywags Pre-School. The pre-school have played their part in raising funds for the project, which provides them with dedicated facilities. The room will also be used as a much needed meeting room and additional function room, and will provide more opportunities to generate income for the hall, which can be re-invested to make continuous improvements.

The pre-school, graded outstanding in its last two Ofsted reports, now has vacancies for the autumn term. For more information call 01409 221833.