Thornage Hall, near Holt, will be able to provide a home for three more people with the completion of a £350,000 extension.

Building work should be competed by the end of March, said the chairman, Edward Hare. It will enable the existing 25-strong community to welcome three more tenants or residents into the fold.

The charity, which was established in 1987, has submitted plans to build a £275,000 informal meeting and activity room. If agreed, then building work could start this summer with completion scheduled for early 2018.

Mr Hare told the latest annual meeting that the multi-purpose building would also provide a spacious rest room where the increasing number of 'day service' adults could have lunch or play pool or other games. It would be available for local community use, he added.

Thornage Hall has made considerable progress in its five-year £500,000 programme to improve buildings and facilities for its residential community.

After receiving a good rating from watchdog the Care Quality Commission at the latest inspection, the charity is investing significantly in recruiting more staff and in training during the next two years.

Thornage Hall employs 36 staff to support the tenants living in five houses and to provide day services for an increasing number of adults, who travel to the community. It is looking to recruit four more staff in the coming weeks.

The charity, which receives significant local authority funding for the tenants' self-supported living, has invested in better facilities and also up-grading accommodation. Two years ago, North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb officially opened a two-bedroomed extension built in traditional materials.

Thornage also has a 70-acre organic and biodynamic farm, which produces food for the community, and opportunities for tenants and other adults to carry out land-based and horticultural tasks.

It enjoyed considerable support for its annual garden fete last September, which attracted a record crowd, and also at the latest Norfolk Christmas Fair. These activities and other donations boosted funds by more than £32,000.