More than a hundred people turned out to attend the official opening of the new Wintringham Community Hall.

Andrew Harrison, chairman of the village hall committee, thanked the Big Lottery fund, other benefactors, and the many volunteers who had given their time to help. Councillor Janet Sanderson of North Yorkshire County Council was on hand to cut the ribbon.

Mr Harrison said that the journey to build the new hall had taken 16 years. He said: "It certainly is the end of a very long road. However, what we have at the end of the long wait is, I believe, the best facility of its type in the area."

He said that three of the committee members had been involved from the very beginning, and added: "The hall will be an ideal venue for weddings, parties, fundraisers, courses and meetings. We are also hoping to accommodate badminton, dominoes, and whist drives. We have already taken quite a number of bookings."