THE Friends of Stretford Public Hall are celebrating after winning its 14 month campaign to turn the landmark Victorian building into an arts and community venue.

Chairman Annoushka Deighton said she was feeling "ecstatic" after council chiefs agreed to sell the building and added that she felt it could play a key role in the area's regeneration.

She said: "The response we've had from the local community has been overwhelming and everyone's really happy that it's coming together.

"We think it's going to help regenerate the centre of Stretford and bring it to life at night and it will be a place for the community to come together. It will create lots of opportunities socially and for small businesses and it will provide employment and lots of activities and services that weren't there previously."

Annoushka said the next step for the Friends group is to start fundraising - it needs £10,000 to carry out initial repairs to a building opened in 1878.

Improvements that need to be carried out include repairs to a roof that leaks and plastering.

She added: "This is preventative work to stop the building deteriorating."

Annoushka said further fundraising will be needed.

Council chiefs said the Hall will play a key role in the Stretford Masterplan - an initiative by the local authority to regenerate the area over the next 10 to 15 years.

Councillor Michael Hyman said:“It is a really exciting time for Stretford, especially with the much needed new businesses injection at the Mall. The new owners have a real enthusiasm for it and this is really beginning to pay off and I can see local people starting to shop there again. This all adds up to the Council’s long-term vision to create a vibrant attractive and desirable area which local people and visitors can be proud of and enjoy.”

Stretford Public Hall was built by the philanthropist John Rylands and has served as everything from a dance hall and a theatre to council offices.

* Anyone interested in supporting the fundraising campaign can do so via the Paypal service at stretfordpublichall.org.