LEVERTON Hall behind St Peter’s Church in Wrecclesham is going to be made more accessible thanks to an early Christmas surprise from The Veolia Environmental Trust.

The trust has awarded the St Peter’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) a grant of £20,000 to help fund the laying of new all-weather paths leading to the hall, and the installation of a platform lift in the approach to the hall.

These features will mean the popular hall will be far more accessible to wheelchair users, people with limited mobility and parents and carers with pushchairs.

The Veolia Environmental Trust awards grants through the Landfill Communities Fund and since 1998 has awarded more than £871,000 to 31 projects in Surrey.

Churchwarden Christopher Ellis said: “The improvements this grant will fund will open up the hall to all, meaning that it can serve the whole community. We cannot wait for the work to start.”

Executive director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, added: “The PCC needs to be congratulated on securing their grant in the face of stiff competition from a large number of other applicants. Their project to make the hall more accessible will make a real difference to the lives of its many users, and we look forward to seeing work start.”