Rural residents in Norfolk have secured a lottery grant towards the cost of constructing a new village hall.

Local charity Wereham Village was awarded £621,000 by the Big Lottery towards the project for the UK's first Passivhaus village hall.

Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.

It will replace a wooden YMCA hut which dates back 100 years, providing a larger main hall, increased facilities and a large multipurpose room.

The project aims to improve the lives for people in Wereham and the surrounding villages.

Charity chairwoman Victoria Gray, who is also the objectives manager for the project, said: "We are thrilled to bits with the award, which is the culmination of four years of hard work."

Trustees and local residents worked tirelessly to raise money for the project, said Ms Gray.

She added: "Without their total dedication and hard work, this achievement would not have been possible."

New activities which will take place in the new hall include a youth group, village cinema, old persons social group, a skills group and heritage and craft groups.

Construction on the site opposite the existing hall, is expected to start during March 2017.

This will allow 6 months to secure the balance of the project funding, which is approximately £230,000.

"With the Lottery on board, we feel confident we'll achieve our target," said Ms Gray.

A video which has been made about the project can be viewed at https://youtu.be/BClLeYfl6N4.