A TOP independent North Yorkshire brickmaker has been praised for its “thoroughly professional and tremendously successful” work at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold.

The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company, based at Alne, provided 50,000 bricks for the new £1.1 million sports and entertainment hall at the nearby centre.

The new facility will be officially opened later this year.

Frank Barugh, the chairman of the management committee at the centre, said: “We are delighted with the very professional and tremendously successful work carried out by York Handmade Brick. The external brickwork of the extension is very much in keeping with the rest of the Galtres Centre. It looks superb and is of a very high standard.”

David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade Brick, said: “This was a very important project for us, because we know the Galtres Centre very well.

“It is part of the social fabric of Easingwold, which is only a couple of miles away from our factory. We are thrilled it has turned out so well.”

The sports hall will be suitable for five-a-side football, tennis, badminton, netball, basketball, aerobics and many other sports and activities. It is also being equipped with two double-bay indoor cricket nets.

The new hall enables the existing sports hall to be converted into an entertainment centre with tiered retractable seating. An acoustic ceiling and new lighting have been installed. It has a capacity of 225 for everything from live performances and cinema shows to conferences.

The scheme completes a 20-year development plan for the centre.