A VILLAGE hall’s fortunes have been transformed following a plea published in the Oxford Mail last year.

The committee that runs Littlemore Village Hall in Railway Lane was concerned that the facility was not being used by the community.

Just two groups used the hall every week, prompting the committee to tell residents to “use it or lose it”.

In a year and a half, that number has grown to six regular weekly groups plus family parties most weekends.

Andrew Galloway, trustee of the hall, said: “I was just gobsmacked. I really am so chuffed with how the village hall is being used literally every day.

“It has grown dramatically.

“Although we don’t make lots and lots of money, the hall is being used for what it was built for and that is for the local community.”

“Last year one of the problems was that people said they thought it was a derelict building. “When I was looking at the accounts, I thought how can we survive?”

He said the dedicated hall committee and trustees as well as the article were to thank for the hall’s increase in popularity.

Mr Galloway added: “I cannot thank the Oxford Mail enough. I am absolutely over the moon.”

Ruth Lloyd, a trustee of the hall, said: “It is brilliant, it is lovely to see. We want it to be a place where everybody can meet up.”

Plans are now in motion to get a ‘village hall’ sign added to the site, as the committee continue with its campaign to revamp the hall.

Committee member Maggie Willis has been leading the project to clean up the village hall.

She said: “What has increased is the hall use for birthday parties for children and family parties and special wedding anniversaries.

“We offer a very good rate and are cheaper than other halls in the area.”