A PURBECK community has cleared another vital hurdle as it inches closer to realising its dream of a new village hall.

Harman's Cross has secured planning permission to rebuild its hall, which is integral to the village as it has no pub, church or library.

Purbeck district councillors granted permission at their most recent planning board meeting, to the joy of the village's hall committee.

"Everybody is feeling pretty upbeat at the moment, which is great," said Roger Tucker, from the committee. "We have been holding lots of fundraising events and been getting a very good response, which is part of the reason we need a bigger hall."

In April, the hall committee overcame the first stage in trying to win a £250,000 grant from the lottery. However, one of the key criteria to move to the next stage of lottery consideration was gaining planning permission.

The village's annual Field Day raised £9,000 this summer, bringing the total raised through fundraising alone to well over £100,000.

The new hall will include a special area for drama and film presentations and facilities for short mat bowls, ballroom dancing, other sports and a separate room for smaller functions and meetings.

Chairman Richard Bullock said: "This enhanced and well-designed facility will meet with our many needs and provides our village - and potential paying guests - with outstanding accommodation."

Harman's Cross is the only village in Dorset to pass through the first stage of the lottery's funding process.

But although the project's momentum is gathering pace, Mr Tucker warned the toughest obstacle was yet to be negotiated.

He said: "We've done the two easier bits but getting through Stage Two of the lottery funding application is quite involved."

The cut-off date for the Stage Two of the lottery application is March 2008 and the village must include business plans, costings and building regulation approval.