A hall has a new look, thanks to a £65,000 extension and improvement programme.

The hall in Longworth, near Abingdon, received the makeover after winning £64,000 from the Lottery's community fund. Longworth Parish Council donated £500 towards the project, with the remainder coming from the village hall committee.

Committee chairman John Phillips said the hall was an important focus for community gatherings, including films and plays, playgroup, toddlers and the village history society.

He said the new hall would make it even more attractive for private functions.

The hall has new toilets and bar, a refurbished kitchen, double glazing and disabled access.

The original hall was an old Nissen hut that was badly damaged in a fire.

A new hall was opened in 1972 by the late MP for Abingdon Airey Neave.

The clerk to Longworth Parish Council, Alan Boyce, said: "The hall plays an important part in village life bringing people together.

"The improvements were long overdue and now we have a wonderful asset of which the village can be proud.

"Praise is due to the hall committee whose members worked so hard to bring about the improvements."

The re-furbished hall was opened on November 30 by the MP for Wantage Robert Jackson, who paid tribute to the hard work of everyone in the village for providing a first class facility.

Mr Jackson is standing down at the next general election.

He was accompanied by the prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate Ed Vaizey.