A community hall in a village near Melksham is to undergo a £23,000 makeover after a grant awarded by the Big Lottery Fund meant work can finally get under way.

The committee which manages Broughton Gifford Village Hall, have hired local heating and plumbing engineer Max Taylor, from Broughton Gifford, for the project, which will see the men’s and women’s toilets swapped around, as well as disabled toilets and baby changing facilities installed.

Funding has come in the form of two £5,000 grants from Community First and Grass Roots, savings from fundraising events such as the annual fireworks display, and crucially a £10,000 Awards for All grant from the Lottery.

Building work will start at the hall in The Street on April 2 and last about four weeks.

Andy Rumble, chairman of the Broughton Gifford Village Hall committee, said: “The facilities we have at the moment have been there for years.

“It was years back that we renovated the kitchen and everyone said what a fantastic job had been done. People have made comments about the toilets, including the cleaner, as they are just not very nice.

“People have also come along in wheelchairs and they find it very easy to get into the hall, but have mentioned the lack of toilet facilities.

“I think its great that we are using someone local for the work too and he is going to be using local sources and traders.”

Mr Rumble said they had wanted to start the project last year, but did not have enough funds, after rain ruined the village’s annual fundraising fireworks display two years ago.

Sue Jeffries, committee treasurer, said baby changing facilities were vital for some of the groups which use the hall, including the Broughton Gifford Pre-School, which uses the facility three times a week, as well as the Broughton Gifford 0-3 Club for toddlers.

Other clubs to use the hall include the Broughton Gifford Piecemakers and the village gardening society.

Other recipients for Awards for All grants include the Warminster Athenaeum Trust, which is renovating the theatre in High Street and were given £10,000 and the Friends of Trowbridge in Bloom, which received £9,000.