Champagne corks have been popping at Harold Wood War Memorial Institute, which has scooped a super cash bounty from the National Lottery Charities Board.

The £85,000 grant, to be paid over two years, was awarded to the group after two previous unsuccessful attempts.

The money from the Community Involvement and Small Grants programme will be used to refurbish the Gubbins Lane building and install more accessible toilet facilities.

Long serving committee member Val Wood said she was "ecstatic" at the news.

She said: "I really can't believe it. This money will make so much difference to our attempts to keep the hall in a state of good repair."

Val has seen a lot of changes to the hall over her 30-year involvement on the committee, but she said it is used more than ever now.

"The hall is really an asset to the community,'' she added. ''We have short mat bowls, yoga, a gardening club, china painting and line dancing which is very popular."

The hall dates back to 1919, and was given to the community by Bryant and May, the matchmaking firm based in Bow, east London, just after World War II.

Since then it has served as a community meeting place, venue for fundraisers and wedding reception hall, among other things.

The Royal British Legion also uses the hall as part of its Remembrance Sunday parade each November.

Val said: "The war memorial hall has always been self run. This grant means we won't have to struggle to find funds for the upkeep so much."

Cllr Brian Eagling congratulated the committee.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted. The hall is a vital part of the Harold Wood community and I am pleased that the National Lottery Charities Board has rewarded the hard work and efforts of the committee."

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