LESS than two years after the Miners' Welfare Hall in Cinderford came close to having to shut, its future looks assured.

With debts of £70,000 the hall could no longer function as a social club but it has a new lease of life as a community venue.

Hall chairman Steve Halifax said: "We are definitely still here although a lot of people did not think we would be.

"We faced a huge challenge in 2013 with debts of £70,000 and massive bills to pay just to keep the door open.

"Now, 12 months on we have weathered that storm and things are really looking up."

A grant of £10,000 from Cinderford Town Council meant the fire alarm system could be brought into line with current regulations.

Steve said: "We had been hoping to put in a new boiler but we had to spend the money on the alarm system or the hall would have been closed down."

The hall is now regularly used by a range of community groups which is vital to the continued success of the venue.

Steve said: "We've got old-time dancing twice a month, Country and Western once a month, music every Sunday night, baton twirlers on Monday nights, bingo twice a week and we are bringing wrestling back to the hall.

"We also have Northern Soul events three times a year and one of them will be a weekender and people are already booking hotels in the Forest."