Pupils are finally to get a hall built at their village school following an 18-year battle for funds.

Staff at Nether Kellet County Primary School are celebrating the news that their bid to build a hall has been included on a list of projects chosen to receive matched funding from the Department for Education and Skills.

The planned hall is due to cost £100,000 and, in the last few months parents, former pupils, villagers and local companies have rallied round with a series of money-spinning events to secure the £50,000 needed to apply for the scheme.

Head teacher Sue Jobbins, who found out on Tuesday that their bid had been chosen, said she was delighted and very excited that after so many years the school was finally going to get the much-needed hall.

The new building will mean that the school's 80 pupils will be able to take part in indoor PE lessons, and classrooms will no longer need to double up as dining rooms.

Planning permission will now be sought to allow work to start as soon as possible.

Mrs Jobbins said she wanted to thank all the people who had contributed in any way to the fund-raising.