With a vista over the village playing field, a brand new kitchen, changing rooms and a spacious stage, Filby's new village hall has the 'wow' factor.

Eastern Daily Press: The keys are handed over as building work is completed at Filby Village Hall. Pictures is Mark Alexander, site foreman for M S Oakes builders, handing the keys to David Thompson, chairman of the Filby Playing Field committee.The keys are handed over as building work is completed at Filby Village Hall. Pictures is Mark Alexander, site foreman for M S Oakes builders, handing the keys to David Thompson, chairman of the Filby Playing Field committee. (Image: Archant)

As previously reported, work on the £500,000 community centre is now complete. Last Friday, members of the Filby Playing Field Committee were handed the keys to the new hall.

Committee member Derek Nicker, who is creating a new website for the hall, said villagers had fought for funding and committee members had strived to worked with locals to ensure the building had something for everyone.

'Even though I saw all the plans and knew what we were getting, when I walked in for the first time, wow - I thought, this is brilliant,' he said.

'The lottery won't give you money for just a building, they need to know it's going to be used and so we've done a lot of surveys and we've talked to people about what they want.'

Clubs poised to use the centre include Filby Parish Council, Filby and Runham Football Club, the WI, Filby Bowls Club, the Computer Club and local fitness classes.

The first event being held is a Marie Curie Cancer fundraiser on June 30, followed by this year's Anglia in Bloom competition on July 8 with Filby's hugely successful In Bloom club. There are also private parties and weddings booked for the months ahead, plans for a village cinema club fast taking shape and members of Broadland Theatre Group already putting together stage shows.

The new 440sq m building, built by M S Oakes of Lowestoft, boasts a spacious main room, stage and dressing room as well as changing rooms and a modern kitchen.

The cash boost which helped the committee over the final financial hurdle came last October when the Big Lottery handed over £474,000, along with grants and help from Norfolk Rural Community Council, Norfolk County Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the parish council and residents.

To find out more about the new hall, how to help out or if you are interested in joining the committee call chairman David Thompson on 01493 369250 for further information. The group is keen to recruit more young people and more women.