Villagers are celebrating after receiving a massive £400,000 Big Lottery grant to build a new community hub.

Lamplugh Village Hall was awarded £403,839 from the Big Lottery Fund yesterday and the money will be used to build a new hall on land behind the existing building.

The committee members are now applying for funding for at least £150,000 towards the project, which could see work beginning at the end of next year.

Bob Marshall, treasurer of the village hall committee, said: "We have achieved a tremendous amount – a little place in West Cumbria picking up over £400,000 is fantastic.

"We're very busy at the moment looking at other funding options."

The new building will include a main hall, small meeting room, kitchen, foyer and bar.

"Modern facilities in the proposed new hall will allow local people and groups to organise and enjoy a much wider range of leisure facilities, functions and events than is currently possible," added Mr Marshall.

"This fantastic opportunity is thanks to income generated by National Lottery players."

The new community hub will have improved facilities and car parking and will offer a range of activities run by local volunteers such as youth club, sports, dance and drama.

There will be a particular focus on activities for children, young people and older people.

In total, the project will cost between £550,000 and £600,000.

Mr Marshall said they have been given six months by the Big Lottery to achieve the remaining funds, as well as creating a business plan.

If all goes to plan, he hopes for work to begin at the end of next year or early 2019.

"The hall is very well used," he said. "The plan is to build the new plot behind the existing on land very kindly donated by the landowner.

"We can then use the existing building until the new one is almost at completion.

"The new hall will enable us to do things which we can't at the present time. We can't have two different organisations hiring a room each.

"Everyone is absolutely delighted. We have confidence that with the lottery money in the bag, that will give other funders confidence to support us."

James Harcourt, England grant making director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: "We are proud to be able to distribute National Lottery money to community projects like Lamplugh Village Hall that are making a real difference in Cumbria.

"When you hear about projects like this you realise the incredible impact the money generated by National Lottery players is having on communities across the region and England as a whole. It really is life changing."

As part of its quarterly announcement, Big Lottery Fund grants totalling £50.3m have been awarded. Almost £605,000 has been given to 24 Cumbrian community projects.