DISTRICT bosses have agreed to award £20,000 to help refurbish Corfe Castle Village Hall.

The Corfe Castle Village Hall Committee approached Purbeck District Council (PDC) after securing a number of grants to help fund the project, which includes refurbishment of the centre's community room and the smaller hub room.

Committee members want to be able to offer the facilities for hire in the local community.

Unforeseen drainage work at the hall has seen the project cost's rise to £59,305.

They have a number of grants in place but approached councillors to consider match-funding the remainder

At the recent full meeting PDC, which took place at Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, councillors agreed to award £20,000 match-funding to the village hall project.

A report to councillors from PDC officials explained: "The scheme will help maintain a functional village hall and community space for local residents.

"The alterations will make the building more accessible, cheaper to run and enhance catering facilities for users of the facility.

"The stated aim is to encourage small local entrepreneurs, by providing a kitchen with the space to prepare food for public sale, which will enhance the local economy."

Previous grants awarded to the village hall from PDC include £10,000 in 2007 and £40,000, earlier this year, to refurbish the kitchen - including a new cooker, extractor system and flooring.

This grant also paid for safety rails to be installed to the outside of the building.

Councillors heard that there are no plans to remove this safety rail during the latest project.

The report explained: "One of the improvements would be for disabled access to comply with the Equalities Act.

"This will improve access for mobility impaired users."

A number of people and organisations have expressed interest in using the revamped community centre.

These include the Corfe Castle Surgery Patient Participation Group, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Admiral Nurse Rachel Murray, Corfe Castle Community Land Trust and Dorset Police.