A NEW lottery has been launched in Oakworth as part of a project to ensure the village's valued community hall remains open to the public.

The fundraising scheme has been set up by Oakworth Community Trust, which is working to take over the management and ownership of the village's Holden Hall.

Holden Hall is among a number of public buildings in the district that Bradford Council wants community groups to take on in order to save the district council money.

City Hall bosses have previously warned that if no-one comes forward, these facilities will have to shut.

Confirming the launch of the Oakworth lottery, the trust's secretary, Martin van der Boon, explained: "This is a monthly draw where half of the money collected is paid back out in prizes.

"The more people that take part the larger the prizes and the more additional income the trust will receive to be able to provide services.

"There's certainly enough people living in Oakworth to support this type of lottery."

A lottery entry costs £1 a month, and the half of the proceeds not used for prize money will be for the development and running of the village hall or other community events run by the trust.

Prize winners will be randomly drawn on the first Saturday of each month. Prize money depends on the number of entries that month, but will always be about half the total entry fund.

People can visit oakworthcommunitytrust.org.uk/lottery/ for details on how to take part in the lottery.

Oakworth Community Trust has also arranged a gin festival, which will be held in Holden Hall on September 8 and September 9.

The over 18 ticket only event will run from 7pm to 11pm on both nights. Admission for each night costs £5 and people can visit oakworthcommunitytrust.org.uk/events/gin-festival-2017/ to book a place.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "This is an opportunity to sample lots of combinations of gins and mixers in one place.

"Entry is by ticket only. Guests will also get a souvenir gin balloon glass to use on the evening and to take home with them."

Mr van der Boon said: "Both the lottery and the gin festival are to raise money for our goal of completing the community asset transfer of the hall and then running it for the benefit of the community.

"At the moment we're still waiting to hear back officially from Bradford Council, though we understand they are really positive about the asset transfer.

"We have a good, strong trustee board with seven members, plus about another 40 people signed up as volunteers.

"But we'd welcome anyone else who wants to get involved too."