WORK is under way to renovate Appleton Parish Hall thanks to a £50,000 grant from funding body WREN.

The funding was successfully obtained by the parish council in April, with phase one and two of the project now completed.

Walls have been re-plastered, new doors and surrounds replaced and flooring and carpet laid both in the small hall, toilets and council office, on Dudlow Green Road.

Shelves have also been installed to house books for the library, with the disabled access ramp and toilet being upgraded.

The council is said to have received positive feedback from users of the hall so far, with Cllr Sharon Harris, chairman of Appleton Parish Council, praising the council's initiative to make the hall a dementia friendly space for the community.

Richard Smith, WREN's grant manager for Warrington, said: "It's always nice to see something we have funded start to take shape. We're delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile project and look forward to it benefitting community groups across Warrington."

Appleton Parish Hall is used by a number of community groups and clubs including, a toddlers group on Friday mornings, a coffee morning run by Aim Christian Fellowship, WI groups, two flower clubs and a keep fit session on Thursday mornings.

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Appleton Parish Council is also providing funds for the renovation project, as well as a £1,500 community initiative fund from Warrington Borough Council that was successfully secured.

Work is expected to be completed by September.