Beloved village hall vandalised

midway through refurbishment

Progress on modernising an historic village hall has been dealt a major blow after vandals ransacked the premises and left it to flood.

East Boldre Village Hall in Hampshire was nearing the end of a radical transformation when burglars forced entry on Wednesday 15 April.

Once inside, the culprits damaged water pipes, along with cables and wiring, and made off with power tools.

A police investigation is now under way and the hall’s volunteers have thanked generous locals who have donated money to help get the building work back on track.

It is hoped the restoration, which was made possible with a grant from the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund, can still be completed by the summer.

A crowdfunding campaign is due to be set up in the coming weeks.