A major fundraising effort by the community has resulted in the long-awaited refurbishment of Cononley Village Institute.

After two years of collecting cash and successful grant applications to various bodies, including Yorventure and Craven District Council, work is underway and due to be completed by the middle of next month.

The project, which including fittings will cost about £95,000, will see the complete transformation of the institute, with improved disabled access and a new acoustic ceiling for the main hall.

The work, which is being carried out by Cononley-based builder, Enoch Harrison and Son, will also include a larger kitchen and better toilets.

Earlier work has included a new roof and the installation of an electric mechanism to work the clock on the outside of the institute, which up until earlier this year was wound manually.

Richard Woolf, a member of the institute committee, said about a third of the money had been raised in the community.

Proceeds from the annual scarecrow festival and the new village beer festival had gone towards the work.

Grant-giving organisations have also included Awards for All, the Bernard Sunley Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Swires Trust.

Mr Woolf said: “It’s been a really good effort, and with about a third being raised locally has helped us with the grant applications.”