From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, March 19, 2007

Branscombe's Village Hall Committee has welcomed funding from Devon County Council to repair the rocking horse in the children's playground, and to fix an automatic device on the door to the public toilet.

Local Devon County Councillor and resident of Branscombe, Cllr Margaret Rogers, will present a cheque for £1,500 to the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, Rosemary Pavey, at 10am on Wednesday 21 March, at the Village Hall.

Local farmer, Edwin Purchase, will also be attending. So keen to see his village's public convenience in full working order, Edwin has donated a large supply of toilet paper to the Village Hall Committee who maintains the unisex loo.

The picturesque village of Branscombe has always been a popular destination for visitors. The East Devon AONB recorded a staggering 72, 482 visitors using the footpath at Manor Mill farm throughout 2006. It's the second busiest path the AONB monitor in East Devon. And with so many visitors to the village, the Village Hall's children's playground and the public toilet are regularly used.

Rosemary Pavey said:

"We've very grateful to the County Council for the funding. The rocking horse has been very popular with children so it's only fair that it should get this well deserved attention. And the automatic door to the toilet block will mean that we won't have to manually lock them overnight and unlock them again in the morning."

Cllr Margaret Rogers, said:

"The County Council is pleased to donate the funding to the Village Hall Committee. The playground and toilets are so well used, so it's great news that they'll receive a little modernising."