VILLAGERS at Burton-in-Lonsdale have launched an ambitious plan to build a £500,000 community centre.

The current village hall is home to 20 thriving groups from within the village and six from outside, but the building dates back to 1854 and is in dire need of repair.

The front elevation is subsiding into the main road while the porch is coming away from the building. The toilets are substandard and there is no provision for disabled users.

To meet safety requirements, a substantial amount of money would have to be spent to improve the building, which stands on the site of the historic Tithe barn. But rather than spend money on repairs, villagers are hoping a funding bid will ensure they can build a new community centre for the 21st century.

Burton-in-Lonsdale Horticultural Show is one of the biggest in the area with 900 entries, but is having to be reduced in size because the hall cannot cope.

Margaret Gibson, of the horticultural society said: "We are going to have to make the show smaller this year and use an extra venue, the Methodist Sunday School down the road, because the village hall is not big enough.

"If we didn't make the show smaller we would have to use three venues which is just not possible.

"What we need is a two storey building where we could spread ourselves out and have the show all in one place."

The local drama group uses the building for their annual entertainment and pantomime, but when the stage is up it makes access to the toilets and kitchen difficult.

The hall is also home to the WI, karate club, keep fit group and the local history group. But with just one room, only one group can use it at a time.

Mrs Gibson added: "There are times when it would be nice for karate to be upstairs while a small meeting could be held downstairs in another room, but at the moment we only have the one room. I think a new hall would be very well used."

Parish council clerk Susan Gregory added: "The village hall committee has been looking into this and thought that instead of patching for the short term it would be better to start from scratch. There is quite a lot of money available and we are very optimistic that we will get it."

The committee will be applying to the National Lottery, North Yorkshire County Council and Craven Council for funding.