NORTH Baddesley Village Hall is on a journey to help the planet - the management committee have raised funds to install LED lighting to reduce energy consumption by approximately two thirds.

The installation of the LED lighting took place last month followed by modifications to the emergency lighting and exit signage. This the first step in a number of ways to reduce energy consumption at the hall and the next focus will be on conserving energy by improving insulation.

The management committee have successfully requested funding from a number of sources namely Viridor Landfill Community Trust, Co-op Community Fund involving their local Foodstores at Halterworth and North Baddesley also the Co-op Funeralcare at Romsey, as well as the Co-op Foodstore in Seymour Lane, in addition Hampshire County Council, Test Valley Borough Council, North Baddesley Parish Council and Draper Tools Lt.

One of the main ways funding has been achieved is by way of the Quizzes run by the North Baddesley Village Hall Management Committee which has raised many thousands of pounds over the last few years to help all projects including this latest one.

Local councillor Alan Dowden, who donated £1,000 of his community budget to the cause, said: "I have much supported the hall and its committee. The work they do and have done a lot of over the years is to improve the hall.

"It is future proofing and I believe the LED lighting to reduce energy, and costs, is a great new addition.

"This means the village hall will be able to keep the cost down of renting the hall."