EFFORTS are well under way to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for a community hub at a thriving country church.

A charity ball, cinema and hotpot evenings and a beer festival have been planned to help build a modern, warm and spacious hall for the whole community, at St Thomas' Church, Crosscrake.

Churchwarden Marlene Little said the busy, vibrant church was "bursting at the seams".

The new hub would make "a huge difference" to the kind of events it could host , she told the Gazette.

They could include hospitality for weddings and christenings, lunch clubs, children's activities, birthday parties, and coffee-and-chat gatherings to help overcome social isolation.

After two years of hard work behind the scenes, parishioners are now preparing to make bids to major grant-making bodies.

They have drawn up a business plan and they hope to raise a quarter of the money themselves, starting with a charity ball at Kendal's Castle Green Hotel on Friday, May 10.

Meanwhile, neighbouring farmer John Stott has donated the extra piece of land needed.

Mrs Little said the entire church was used to capacity and regularly attracted 50 worshippers on Sundays, with numbers more than doubling for special occasions such as Easter.

For November's Armistice centenary a marquee even had to be hired to fit everyone in.

"It's a success story and we've been described as a beacon of good practice," said Mrs Little.

To book for the fundraising events, see www.crosscrake.church