A VILLAGE hall's future has been secured for the immediate future after locals rallied against a closure threat.Peasenhall Village Hall is safe - for now - after 14 people volunteered to sit on its committee.

A VILLAGE hall's future has been secured for the immediate future after locals rallied against a closure threat.

Peasenhall Village Hall is safe - for now - after 14 people volunteered to sit on its committee.

It was under threat of closure currently just six people run the Swiss chalet-style building when 15 or 16 people are needed.

Yvonne Ball, chairman of the committee, said: “It looks as though it will linger on for a little longer because we've got enough people who have signed up.”

She said she was now devising a letter to clarify that they have signed up to be on the committee and not just to help out.

“There seemed to be some confusion about just helping out,” said Mrs Ball, who has been on the committee for 18 years. “It's all very well volunteering help but we desperately need people to sit on the committee.”

Around 50 members of the public turned up to the meeting at the village hall on Wednesday.

Mrs Ball said: “I was pleasantly surprised how many people came because I only got out half a dozen chairs out but we ended up needing to get out loads more. So its fingers crossed that our hall will be saved after all.”

She said Sam Jackson, of Suffolk ACRE, also came to give a talk.

If they were unable to rally support, the hall would have had to close this May after the committee's annual meeting in April.

Committee members are needed to discuss and deal with anything that concerns the hall as well as help out at events.

The 1860 building was built by entrepreneur James Smyth who had an interest in Swiss design.

It has played host to wedding receptions coffee mornings children's parties and funeral teas over the years.

The hall is also home to the local Women's Institute (WI) a meditation group and a mothers and toddlers group.

kate.scotter@eadt.co.uk