A car park has been fully re-opened following a £17,000 resurfacing project – 15 years after the other half was completed.

One side of the carpark at Thornwood Village Hall, North Weald was tarmaced in 2000, but there were not enough funds to do the other side.

Now the work has finally been done after North Weald Bassett Parish Council received £17,866 from Essex County Council's Community Initiatives Fund towards the surfacing work.

The hall, in Weald Hall Lane, is an integral part of village life and the new surface will give a safer access to the hall, the playing field, childrens' play area and allotments, while alleviating on-road parking.

Among those attending the ribbon-cutting on Friday were North Weald Parish Council chairman Cyril Hawkins, North Weald county councillor Jackson and Epping Forest District Council leader Chris Whitbread, along with local residents.