VILLAGE halls are often recognised as an essential part of village life — a hub for many activities, as well as a place for people to come together.

Mostly owned and managed by the local communities they serve, keeping these buildings running and comfortable to use is no easy task.

However, thanks to grants from Torridge’s community grants scheme, four of these halls have seen their facilities upgraded in recent months, including Halwill and Bridgerule.

Around £45,000 has been handed out by the council with each project receiving all of the money they applied for.

Halwill received a grant of £5,000, which was used for a new, safer footpath connecting Beaworthy Cross to the village, suitable for parents with pushchairs and cycles to use.

A further grant of £10,000 went to Bridgerule Village Hall to refurbish a kitchen area and for a new floor for the hall.

Cllr Jane Whittaker, leader of Torridge District Council, said: “Village halls play a vital role sitting at the heart of our local communities, often providing essential services, particularly in very rural areas. Volunteers do a wonderful job in keeping many of these halls going, but maintenance and refurbishment is a major financial burden.

“I am so pleased that we were able to help out financially in these cases by providing funds for the renovation and improvement projects. The primary aim of the grants scheme is to put money back into our communities and you can’t really get better examples of this, then the projects shown here.

“I would always want to congratulate all the volunteers who keep these important facilities going.”