AN historic ballroom in the heart of Stretford is set to be transformed after the residents rallied together and helped raise a whopping £255,178 in just two months.

Friends of Stretford Public Hall, the campaign group that saved the much-loved landmark from development in 2014, smashed their ballroom restoration fundraising target by £55,000.

The group raised the money through a Community Share Offer, which allows people to purchase shares in the hall.

The money will fund a series of essential refurbishment works which will transform the space so it can host events accommodating up to 400 people.

The final total included a £100,000 match funding from charitable fund Power to Change.

Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston, Kate Green, was one of the investors.

“The community came together over a year ago to save the building, and it’s fantastic to see people coming together again to invest in its restoration through the community share offer,” she said.

On Friday April 28, a community share celebration was held at the hall, with music from The Bim Williamson Trio and Dj Mr.Scruff, who played for free.

Ahead of Friday’s event, founding member Lisa Heanley said: “The whole community came together and now we want to say thank you to them.”

The Friends of Stretford Public Hall have recently launched community cinema screenings.

For more information about Stretford Public Hall, visit stretfordpublichall.org.uk.