WOOLASTON shop-keeper 'Dan' Dare is staging a series of pop concerts at the village hall to help raise £75,000 lottery grant match-funding to replace the aging building.

Top local bands including Akira Dawn will be doing gigs at Woolaston Memorial Hall over the next three months and perhaps beyond, depending on how popular they prove.

"Our hall is old and in urgent need of replacement. If we lost this it would be greatly missed by all the villagers," said Mr Dare, proprietor of the Netherend Stores, who is putting his efforts – and money – behind the drive.

"Because it has a variety of uses it gives people, especially new residents, a place to meet, have a good talk and get to know one another.

"A lottery grant is being applied for to build a new village hall but the hall committee has to raise £75,000 of its own money. So we decided to get involved. The hall is of good size with a large stage and we thought it would be the ideal place top showcase local talent.

"There are a lot of good young bands in the Forest with not many places to play, so we decided to sponsor some live music evenings."

So far he has booked Ragweek and Estevez for Saturday, February 8; AC/DC tribute band Hell's Bells and a disco for March 29, and Akira Dawn plus a support band for April 26.

Mr Dare has also helped to get the curtains refurbished and the hall painted to make it welcoming once again.

"We have more bands to come but we need to see what support we get for these shows," he added.

Tickets will be available at the Netherend Stores, or call Mr Dare on Dean 529225.