A LANDMARK building is a step closer to salvation after a community group pledged one of their biggest ever donations.Renovation work is desperately needed to restore Woodbridge's dilapidated Shire Hall to its former glory.

A LANDMARK building is a step closer to salvation after a community group pledged one of their biggest ever donations.

Renovation work is desperately needed to restore Woodbridge's dilapidated Shire Hall to its former glory.

Now the town's community council has decided to donate £18,000 to help with the work.

Chairman Gerry Cooper said: "The donation is taking a large chunk of our reserves but we feel this is justified in light of the need for it.

"This is one of the buildings that is synonymous with Woodbridge, one of the faces of Woodbridge.

"The decision to make such a large donation was unanimous amongst our members."

More than £200,000 is needed to complete the work on the hall. The building has a leaking roof, rotten timbers, crumbling stonework and gutters to be replaced.

The town council is using £50,000 of their reserves and a £150,000 loan from the Public Works Loan Board to meet the cost.

But the annual cost of paying back the loan will be £18,000.

Numerous fundraising activities, such as a 'buy a brick appeal' have been launched, but the community council's money will help with the repayments for the first year.

Deputy mayor Russell Geen said: "I think the donation is wonderful. The community council are only a small organisation but they have raised so much money for people in the town over the years.

"We are fighting a hard battle for the Shire Hall and what they've done is absolutely fantastic."

Most of the £18,000 has been raised by the community council's annual mammoth bazaars over the course of the last three years.

The next one will be held on March 6 and March 7 and volunteers are on the look out for unwanted bric-a-brac.

If you have anything you would like to donate contact the council's publicity officer Peter Bacon on 01394 383393.