TOSSIDE villagers are watching their new £500,000 community hall take shape.

Work is now well under way on the project to replace the village's old, but well-used community hall with a purpose-built new one.

The scheme was four years in the planning before the finance was secured and contractors Wooler's turned the first sod on November 3.

Now work is progressing well and it is hoped the building will be finished in May.

"It's been a long haul but worth it. Everybody's worked very well together and we have a good team of people," said project manager Eddie Runswick.

The idea of a new hall was first mooted when the village school closed four years ago.

"The old hall was on its last legs. We had a survey done and they said it would only last another five years. the hall was extremely well used so nobody wanted to lose it," explained Mr Runswick.

Half the money needed has come from the European Union Regional Development Fund and the Lottery Community Fund has given a third. The small Tosside community of just 300 men, women and children has raised £14,000 towards the project.

A datestone featuring the Tosside fox, as seen on the village weathervane, is due to be laid in the building in a month's time.

Now a week of celebrations is planned for the official opening and Mr Runswick and his team are looking to solve the village hall's parking problems.

The Church Acre, a field behind Tosside Church, has been earmarked as a possible site for a car park and village green. There is broad support for the scheme, although a few people are against it. "We are currently looking for funding for that. We need a car park not just for the hall but for the village, for visitors and to help support the local businesses," said Mr Runswick.