KIND-HEARTED volunteers have helped save their community £10,000 by refurbishing a church hall.

When the hall at the Holy Trinity Church in Southchurch Boulevard, Southchurch, fell into disrepair,ateam stepped to redecorate it from top to bottom and did the job that tradesmen would have charged thousands for.

But the church now needs help replacing its boiler so it can continue to heat the building through the cold winter.

Associate priest Father Frank Smith said: “A bunch of people from the church gave up their time and spent four weeks completely redecorating it from top to bottom. It’s looking very nice.

“They’ve done a brilliant job.

“We’re hoping that groups will hire it out for functions, meetings and parties now.”

But he added: “The boiler is a problem, it needs to be completely replaced, and we need to keep the church warm so people can come here. We need to raise money for it and trying to get charitable funding these days is so difficult.”

The church is organising events to try to raise funds for the new boiler.

The next event is the Canterbury Cantata chamber choir performing at the church at 5pm on September 29.

Tickets cost £8.

To hire the hall, or book tickets to the concert, call Linda Wanncott on 01702 305884.