A NEW community centre is nearing completion after Storth residents rallied round to raise more than £139,000 to replace a 30-year-old wooden pavilion in the village.

Since May 2003, members of the Storth Playing Field Committee have worked tirelessly towards the figure after an application to The Countryside Agency led to a £93,000 donation from the Aggregate Levy fund. With some generous backing from a number of sources, including the Neighbourhood Forum and parish council, and the help of local businesses, there are hopes to open the Heron Hall at the end of this month.

Committee member Tina Bellamy praised the generosity of locals who pledged their support for the project by donating raffle prizes and thanked gas pipeline company Transco for the £1,000 it donated for some essential plumbing.

"As well as discos, cake-stalls, car boot sales and so on, children from the primary school made Christmas cards to sell, and we have had some great support from some local businesses," she said. "Transco kindly helped with some toilets and sinks and now we just need a further £10,000 for the finishing touches. We have some more car boot sales and things planned and we appreciate the support of anyone who can help."

Use of the Heron Hall will be shared between the school and village and will provide a much-needed meeting place for a number of local groups. There will be an official opening at the annual village fete on Saturday, June 26.