Villagers hoping to build a new community hall are holding a Christmas event on Monday which they hope will kick-start their £1m fundraising scheme.

Plans for a new village hall in Cullingworth were announced in the summer with a target of £500,000, but since then more detailed research suggests the building could cost twice that.

But the doubling of the projected cost has not put off members of the Village Hall Renewal Committee.

Jenny Woodhead said: “We were very shocked, but we kind of had to say, ‘Moving on, we’ll still do it.’”

An architect has drawn-up outline plans for a two-storey building working with groups, such as the pre-school, who will use it.

“We’re in the very early stages. We got together a group of people and had our first meeting in July. We’re all local people of mixed abilities. We’re not builders or campaigners, we’ve got different skill sets, but loads of enthusiasm.”

The village hall was moved to Station Road from the Damside area of Keighley in 1967, where it was the citadel of the local Salvation Army for many years.

“I think it came up on the back of a couple of lorries, and has been our village hall ever since. It was a second-hand building in 1967 and it’s not looking too clever now, as you can imagine.”

The hope is to build on land at Lodge Street in a land swap with Bradford Council.

On Monday, villagers are invited to support the fundraising at the Christmas Twilight musical evening, in the village hall from 5pm until 7pm. Tickets are £5 for adults, and free for children.

E-mail kathryn.toledano@btinternet.com or visit the Paper Shop or post office for tickets.