Three months ago residents in Clanfield knew they had an uphill battle to raise £70,000 to repair the village's crumbling Memorial Hall.

But in such a short space of time, the target has been reached and work can start to reopen the building in South Lane.

Brian Ahern, a trustee of the Memorial Hall, said he had been overwhelmed - although not entirely surprised - by villagers dipping into their own pockets to fund the project.

'It's very exciting,' he said.

'It's all from the community. It's all been raised in three months, so it's brilliant.

'The spirit in Clanfield is really most rewarding.'

Repairs are vital to the roof of the Memorial Hall, which has been closed for almost 18 months due to health and safety dangers.

The work will mean Remembrance services for the village can take place as planned in November - as they have done since 1920 when the hall was built as a memorial to villagers who died in the First World War.

The wooden hut, which was the 'Nissen' type used by the military during the First World War, was taken down and rebuilt in 1982, but has been out of action since February last year.

More than £5,000 was raised from donations from villagers and a grant of £10,000 was given from Clanfield Parish Council.

A total of £25,000 came from developer contributions, a further £5,000 from East Hampshire's Community Initiatives Fund and £5,000 from a Grass Roots grant.

Local businesses have also offered help, with Ernie Mew & Sons offering labour, Dyer & Butler providing security fencing, and SCES donating air-conditioning.

The work, expected to take two months, will mean that scores of community groups, made homeless after it was shut down, can return.

'It will be wonderful,' said Mr Ahern. 'Suddenly there will be life breathed back into the village.'

David Newberry, trustee chairman, said: 'This is an excellent example of what can be achieved by a group of enthusiastic volunteers all working together.'

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