VILLAGERS in Hawkshaw are on a mission to bring their local church and primary school into the 21st Century.

Parishioners need to raise £19,000 to carry out work on St Mary's Church, which dates back to 1892. And school governors of the village school need to raise £20,000.

The Rev John Armstrong, vicar of the church, said: "The parochial church council has been considering how best we can use our church buildings to meet the challenges of worship and evangelism as we enter the 21st Century."

Following their last meeting, the PCC agreed to remodel the entrance to the church and upgrade the toilet facilities to meet requirements for the disabled, raise the chancel area and buy a projector and introduce other modern day technological equipment. The work is estimated to cost £19,000.

The voluntary aided (VA) status of St Mary's CE School, Hawkshaw, means the governing body has to raise 10 per cent of the cost. A lack of space means another storey has to be built to accommodate desperately needed classrooms and increase storage facilities. Mr Armstrong is confident the community will support the projects. Those wishing to support the projects can ring 01706 82 2312.