A COMMUNITY near Dorchester is seeking further funding to keep their valued village hall afloat.

The Godmanstone Village Hall in Church Lane provides a welcome venue for villagers to pursue social, educational and sporting activities.

The Do It for Dorset campaign, which is backed by the Dorset Echo, is hoping to raise awareness and encourage donations to smaller local charities.

After facing closure and demolition in 2009, the Godmanstone community hub has since been refurbished to cater for people of all ages who meet there regularly.

The hall hosts both the youth club and senior citizen coffee mornings which are held to combat loneliness and feelings of isolation.

Helen Brown, a committee member of Godmanstone Village Hall, said: “We would really appreciate some help with this important village amenity.

“We have no village green, pub or pavement on the road so this is our only place of social interaction.

“It is important to all generations but in particular to the young and the elderly.

“It was a great achievement for such a small village to raise the funding for the necessary works but inevitably more work has been found that means we are now struggling with ongoing maintenance.”

The main hall, built in 1850, is in urgent need of attention.

Improvements needed include work to keep rainwater out of the building and installation of secondary glazing to eliminate draughts to reduce heating costs.

Members are also hoping to attend to rotting floorboards.