A VILLAGE hall that has been closed for most of the past two three years re-opened at the weekend.

On her final day in office, the High Sheriff of Somerset, Jennifer Duke, visited the premises in Huish Champflower to present an award “in recognition of great and valuable services to the community”.

The hall, which was officially re-opened on Saturday (March 18), had been closed since July for a major refurbishment. Before that it was closed for much of the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022.

Mrs Duke praised the community for uniting to give the building its new lease of life.

She said: "This will be a wonderful place for this community and others to enjoy together for many years to come.”

The following day, she was succeeded as High Sheriff by Robert Drewett at a service in Wells Cathedral.

Peter Krijgsman, chairman of Huish Champflower Village Hall, said: “It was a delightful surprise for us to receive this award recognising the hard work and dedication of many local people.

"It will help the hall to re-establish its popularity as people discover what we have done here and what we are still planning to do.”

The hall, originally built 60 years ago, has had a complete makeover with new toilet and kitchen facilities, new doors and windows, a new roof and full insulation.

The outside appearance has been transformed by cladding the original concrete slabs in British cedarwood.

The project was financed by grants and donations from a number of sources and local fundraising efforts.