A NORTH Yorkshire church hall's future has been secured thanks to a £100,000 National Lottery windfall.

Members of Sowerby Parochial Church Hall, near Thirsk, say they are delighted to have been awarded the grant, which will enable them to go ahead with a five-year improvement plan.

The 1930s-built centre, currently used by 20,000 people a year, will now get new toilets, spacious entrance foyer, extended parking and new windows as well as improved disabled facilities. As a rolling programme of low-cost improvements has already increased booking by 42 per cent, members are hopeful of a profitable future.

"This is super news for everyone in and around Sowerby," said hall chairman Martin Hooper.

"This vote of confidence from the Community Fund will encourage all of us associated with the hall to finish the work we have started, and to make the hall the first choice of venue for all local organisations."

Updated: 09:44 Wednesday, November 13, 2002