A HARDY group of villagers are hoping they can come in from the cold with their latest fundraising project.

Residents in Middleton, near Pickering, need to raise about£6,000 to install central heating in their ageing village hall.

At the moment, wall-mounted heaters give off some warmth - but only if you're lucky enough to be sitting directly underneath them.

Villager Brenda Harrison said: "At the moment we just have electric heaters up at the top of the wall.

"People find it very cold but then with the heat blazing down it burns the back of your neck.

"You have to put boots on in the winter just to keep your feet warm unless you're sitting directly under them. We have raised about £250 so far through a quiz, but there's a long way to go. There's a charity shop in the village where different charities can use the space.

"We have got it from May 6 to May 9 so we will be collecting things to sell."

Ruth Hutchinson, who is in embroidery and craft groups meeting regularly at the hall, added: "Your feet really do get cold and like a lot of village halls it wants updating with central heating - things tend to get damp. A lot of people sit with their coats on."

Mrs Hutchinson said several fundraising events were already in the pipeline.

As well as money from the charity shop, a village quiz had been planned which would hopefully bring in around £100, she said.

This Sunday the village hall will host nearly new stalls, bric-a-brac and a huge tombola with more than 100 prizes on offer.

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, March 19, 2003