A programme of events has been launched in Holton to keep the only community space in the village open.

Former county councillor Wendy Mendham has joined the Holton Village Hall committee after attending the AGM and learning that its future was in jeopardy.

She agreed to help organise a number of fundraising events including a Sunday breakfast, pop-up-pub, celidh and bingo evening to help put money back in the coffers.

Holton lost its only pub last year and the pre-school no longer uses the village hall so fundraising has been deemed the only option.

Mrs Mendham said: “Thirty one years ago lots of people worked really hard to get the hall built and funded so I felt the only thing to do was to run some events to raise some money to keep it going.

“Myself and bookings secretary Alison Cackett are trying to help them run three or four events a month to bring people back to the hall. We are just doing it as amateurs on a shoestring but you have to put a bit of passion into everything. We have already banked £2,000.

“The pop-up-pub and big breakfast have been really popular so we are going to keep going with those. We are starting to get bookings now as we are trying to make it more inclusive so people feel that they can just pop down to the hall because its part of the community.”

Mrs Mendham said the committee has also put in bids for help to purchase a new hearing loop and sound system.

The next event at the hall takes place tomorrow at 8pm when Suffolk county councillor Tony Goldson and his wife Teresa will take on the Strictly Challenge during a ballroom dance evening.

The couple will perform a waltz and four people will give a donation to become one of the famous judges. Sponsorship forms are available and everyone is welcome.

And next Saturday, October 29, there will be a Halloween disco for youngsters at 5pm and for the older members of the community the pop-up-pub will be opening at 7pm.

Are you raising funds for a special project? Email louisa.lay@archant.co.uk