A £4,000 REFURBISHMENT of Littlemore's village hall has got under way thanks to the generosity of the "lads at the pub".

The George pub has made the Littlemore Village Hall committee its charity of the year for the next 12 months and its regulars have mucked in to begin a long-planned renovation.

The work, being carried out by pub regulars in the building trade, is expected to be completed by the end of the month and money raised by the pub's customers and villagers will go towards covering the cost.

The village fair next Sunday will be the pub's major annual fundraiser and landlord Nigel Woodley encouraged punters to come down and support Littlemore's hall.

He said: "We wanted to help out the village hall by choosing it for our fundraising efforts for the next year.

"We will have tins at the bar for donations and plan a number of events but our main one really is the fair on August Bank Holiday Monday.

"We have assembled some of our regulars who work in the building trade and we are doing our own makeover of it."

The refurbishment will see the hall's ladies toilets replaced and the hall itself re-painted and floor polished.

The hall, which was built in 1924 after a fundraising push from villagers after the First World War had stalled the project, is regularly used by toddler and parent groups, over-60s fitness classes, Girlguiding groups and private parties.

Chairwoman of the Littlemore Village Hall committee Claire Drinkwater hoped the improvements would attract even more people to the village's central meeting place.

She said: "The hall was built almost 100 years ago and for some time we have known that it was looking a bit tired and in need of improvements.

"Nigel approached us and asked what the pub might be able to help with which was really nice.

"They are running some events but also a lot of the lads at the pub are in building-related trades and they have volunteered to help which is brilliant."

She added: "As well as improving the ladies' facilities it will just brighten and freshen up the hall.

"It is already quite well used but it would be great if the improvements led to more people booking it out."

The George's Bank Holiday Fair will take place on Monday, August 29 featuring stalls, games and events for villagers of all ages.

To get in touch about booking the hall once it re-opens in September go to littlemorelive.moonfruit.com or call 07467127009.