Keeping warm is the 'heat' of the matter (From Gazette & Herald)

Keeping warm is the 'heat' of the matter

A HARDY group of villagers are hoping they can come in from the cold with their latest fundraising project.

Residents in Middleton, outside Pickering, need to raise around £6,000 to install central heating at their ageing village hall.

At the moment wall-mounted heaters give off some warmth - but only if you're lucky enough to be sitting directly underneath them.

Villager Brenda Harrison said: "At the moment we just have electric heaters up at the top of the wall.

"People find it very cold, but then with the heat blazing down, it burns the back of your neck.

"You have to put boots on in the winter just to keep your feet warm unless you're sitting directly under them.

"We have raised about £250 so far through a quiz, but there's a long way to go.

"There's a charity shop in the village where different charities can use the space.

"We have got it from May 6 to 9 so we will be collecting things to sell."

Ruth Hutchinson, who is in embroidery and craft groups meeting regularly at the hall, added: "Your feet really do get cold and, like a lot of village halls, it wants updating with central heating - things tend to get damp. A lot of people sit with their coats on."

Mrs Hutchinson said several fundraising events were already in the pipeline. Money from the village's charity shop will be donated to the central heating appeal when the group take it over for a short time in May, and a village quiz has been planned which will hopefully bring in around £100, she said.

This Sunday, from 9.30am to noon, the village hall will host nearly-new stalls, bric-a-brac and a huge tombola with more than 100 prizes on offer.

Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, March 19, 2003