A former dinner lady who served pupils when a village school was in its original Victorian building has made a last-ditch plea for help creating a credible plan to save it.

Mattishall residents voted to replace the structure on Dereham Road with landscaped open space in a village referendum last month, but some complained both options on the ballot paper involved pulling it down.

Previous plans to convert the building into a community hub fell through because of lack of funding.

Former parish councillor Jenny Gibbs said she has been given until October 31 to come up with an alternative plan which includes a management committee and assessments of electricity, insurance and tax bills.

She said she had already received expressions of interest in using it for a twice-weekly youth club, beauty treatments and holistic therapy.

She said: 'Emotionally it would be a great loss. A lot of people went to that school and their children went there and a lot of people are very fond of the building and it's stood there all these years.'

Contact Mrs Gibbs on 01362 850296.