A VILLAGE hall has welcomed back some of its community groups after lockdown.

Knott Memorial Hall in Heddon-On-The-Wall has reopened for business, six months after it was forced to close.

The hall, which dates back to the 1930s, is operated by a board of trustees. In February, it received £17,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund - the money had been going to go towards improvements, but is now keeping it alive.

Chairman Mike Laker explained that the situation.

He said: "The hall is now COVID secure and we've been open for the last week. Three of our regular groups have come back in.

"We don't feel we can hold open events like weddings, we just have to use it for regular users who are familiar with it.

"We carry on and wait for more guidance, hoping we won't be curtailed. It's a bit frustrating."

One new feature is an emergency kit box, containing the necessary equipment to deal with an unexpected medical emergency.

The kit box, which was put together by treasurer Dave Blackett, has been taken up by the West Northumberland Community Buildings Consortium, and rolled out to village halls across Tynedale.