From Janet Kipling, Exeter 383654, March 30, 2007

FIVE village halls and community centres in Devon villages are to be given a new lease of life with cash totalling over £7,200 from their local Devon County Councillors.

The money comes from the County Committee budget, which gives councillors budgets for one-off donations for local projects.

Abbotskerswell Parish Rooms is to receive the biggest grant of £5,500 towards a £90,000 project to construct a new meeting room, kitchen and toilet facilities.

Work on the listed building, which is used by various local groups and the Parish Council, will start in May.

Cllr Phil Cook used his County Committee budget for the grant.

Gittisham Village Hall near Honiton is to receive £454 from Ottery St Mary Rural Cllr Roger Giles.

The money will be used to replace a single fridge freezer with separate units, which will save money by enabling the freezer to be switched off during times when the hall isn't used.

Funding totalling £350 is being given to Dalwood Village Hall near Axminster to replace the hob in the kitchen by Axminster Councillor Douglas Hull.

Cllr Hull said: "It is very important that we keep our village hall up to the highest standards of health and safety and food hygiene."

At Lamerton Sports and Community Centre, near Tavistock, £400 is being given for a new fridge freezer by Cllr Roy Connelly.

The St Giles Sports and Social Club near Torrington, which is used by skittle and snooker teams along with the local youth club, is being given £500 from Cllr John Rawlinson's County Committee budget. The money will be used for the refurbishment of its toilet facilities which will be available for young children using the adjacent sports and recreation field.