Villagers behind a project to turn an old school building into a £600,000 community hub have been given a £2,000 vote of confidence. The Barlow Charity in Mattishall wants to transform a disused Victorian infant school in the village into an eco friendly social hub with pre-school, tea room and day centre.

Villagers behind a project to turn an old school building into a £600,000 community hub have been given a £2,000 vote of confidence.

The Barlow Charity in Mattishall wants to transform a disused Victorian infant school in the village into an eco friendly social hub with pre-school, tea room and day centre.

Last month they launched a bid to get the backing of villagers a redeemable bond scheme and a questionnaire, which was sent out to every household in the village.

Since then more than 25pc have responded and pledged £2,000 in redeemable bonds towards the so-called Mattishall Community project.

But organisers have said there is still time for people to put in their pledge and fill in the questionnaire.

It is hoped villagers backing will boost any future funding bids, showing local people want it.

Two bids for substantial funding recently failed.

Fred Elson, a spokesman for the scheme, said: “So far more than 25pc of households have returned their completed forms and more than £2,000 of bonds have been bought.

“The consultation vote so far indicates that a very significant majority of the village support the proposal to retain the Victorian school and carry out a high specification conversion of it into a multi-purpose community centre offering a range of services and facilities in the centre of the village.

“We hope to complete everything in the next two weeks.

“If you have not returned your form or bought a bond there is still plenty of time and we look forward to hearing from you.”

Other options previously posed are to scale down the project, sell part of the site to raise money selling the entire building or demolishing the old school and building something new.

Returns of the questionnaire or bond scheme can be made to collectors in the village or left at the post office in Dereham Road.

The village green opening on October 18 raised just over £500 for the project and the same for other village organisations.

A book fair held on October 4 and 5 raised £435.