AMBITIOUS plans to extend and refurbish a Pendle village's parish hall were given a boost at the weekend.

Work on Kelbrook Parish Hall is set to go ahead next year, thanks to a £55,000 Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) grant and the fund-raising efforts of local people.

They continued over the weekend when the parish hall committee held its annual arts and crafts fair.

This is expected to raise around £1,000 towards the cost of upgrading the hall. The committee plans to extend the Dotcliffe Road building to provide space for new toilets and a kitchen. A conservatory will be added to the side of the hall and the existing one will be converted into two rooms.

Committee chairman Trevor Walmsley, who runs Kelbrook Potteries, one of the exhibitors at the fair, said: "Our SRB bid for money to help carry out the renovations has been accepted. We've also managed to raise £13,500 over the past two years. We're hoping the work will go ahead next year. It will transform the hall but we want to keep its character."

Exhibitors displayed crafts ranging from pottery to needlecraft, while members of the ladies guild provided home-made lunches and refreshments.

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