Delight for Dersingham as Queen tours new village centre

Officials behind the development of a new West Norfolk community hub have spoken of their delight after the Queen toured the building.

The 93-year-old monarch made a private visit to the new Dersingham village centre, where she unveiled a plaque to celebrate its opening, yesterday afternoon.

While there, she met and chatted with volunteers and representatives of groups which use the building.

David Collingham, chairman of the Village Centre Association, said it had been a "marvellous" day for the community.

He said: "It was wonderful to have her with us."

Trustee Sue Payne added: "Everyone who was there was thrilled, chuffed to bits, so pleased to be involved."

More than £1 million was spent on developing the new building, with over half of that coming from a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

The building offers a main hall with capacity for up to 200 people, two meeting rooms, a central hub and kitchen. It is also fully licensed.

Asked what the Queen had made of the building, Mr Collingham said: "She loved it. She couldn't believe the transformation because she remembered the former church hall that it was.