CONSTRUCTION work on a new £750,000 village hall for Warcop began on Monday after five years of planning and fund raising.

The first sod was dug on the site next to the village primary school by 82-year-old Les Baines.

He has been involved with the village hall since it was a Temperance Hall and is currently a member of the new Village Hall Building Committee. He is the longest- serving hall trustee and has been treasurer for 34 years.

MORE TOP STORIES: Ray Bromby, chair of the Village Hall Committee, said he was ‘delighted’ that work had finally begun.

A number of organisations have provided funding for the project with the Big Lottery contributing £500,000 and guidance.

The project has also been supported by grants from the Cumbria Community Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Eden Community Fund and Warcop Parish Council as well as extensive local fundraising.

The hall has been designed by architects Manning Elliott in Penrith and the construction contract has been awarded to Kendal-based Cox and Allen.