The communities of Market Lavington and Potterne have been commended for the quality of their community halls.

Aileen Farmer from the management committee of Market Lavington community hall and Nesta Pudney from Potterne village hall received their certificates for the Hallmark quality status award scheme on Saturday , May 17, from Brian Clake, chairman of the Wiltshire Village Halls Association.

This is a national scheme for village halls and their committees to demonstrate best practice in the management of these important local community assets.

Carol Southall, the village halls and community buildings adviser from Community First in Devizes, said: “Both halls were congratulated as exemplary halls as they have received all three levels of these awards.

“There are 25 halls in Wiltshire that hold levels one and two and only seven who hold three.

“These are good examples of how diverse village halls can be, as Potterne village hall was built in the 1800s whereas Market Lavington was purpose-built seven years ago.”