A vicar has described the transformation of a historic church hall into a pop-up pub as a ‘rip-roaring success’.

Last weekend volunteers at St Barnabas Church, converted its under-used Stafford Hall into The St Barnabas Arms, with beer supplied from Wild Card Brewery.

The boozy weekend managed to raise £1,500 which will be used to refurbish the hall and bring it into wider use by the church and community.

The 'congregation' got through five barrels, 20 boxes of Wild Card Brewery ale as well as a variety of other beers, wine and soft drinks.

The Stafford Hall has served as the church hall since 1901 and for the last 45 years it has been the weekly meeting place of a cinema club.

But last weekend the "shabby-chic" pub attracted nearly 500 customers including the Bishop of Barking Peter Hill and Green MEP Jean Lambert.

Canon Steven Saxby called the weekend a 'rip-roaring' success.

He said: “It was great drinking real ale with the Bishop of Barking and listening to live music from the East Lonesome Drifters.

“But the real highlight for me was the fact that it brought so many people from the immediate community into contact with each other, contributing more to a great community spirit down here in this part of Walthamstow.

“We will probably repeat the St Barnabas Arms, but we are also thinking of other pop-ups, a patisserie, a curry house, pop-up poetry, and more."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Green MEP Jean Lambert with Canon Steven Saxby (right)