A COMMUNITY group in Melbourn is appealing to the public to help raise £40,000 for the development of a new community building. The All Saints Community Hall Fund has already raised £90,000 to erect the building on the site of existing community premises

A COMMUNITY group in Melbourn is appealing to the public to help raise £40,000 for the development of a new community building.

The All Saints Community Hall Fund has already raised £90,000 to erect the building on the site of existing community premises at the rear of All Saints Church.

Fund chairman, the Rev Andrew O'Brien, said: "At the moment the building is a 1970s prefab building so it's past by its sell-by date.

"The new building will be larger with a community room and a main hall."

Mr O'Brien is co-ordinating the build because there is no main contractor. "It's a scary project," he said.

He has been working on the project for the past five years and plans to start building at the end of September.

Councillor Bob Trimble, said: "The parish council supports the group. We want facilities throughout the village so this is fantastic. It's nice to see them being pro-active and upgrading the building."

All Saints Nursery, which is based in the existing building, will temporarily move to The Moor pavilion until the work is completed.

On July 15, Mr O'Brien will be in the church porch with details of the plans.

He will also be selling bricks for £10 each and roof slates for £5 each to raise cash to meet the building costs.