Work has started to convert The Old School building in Sherston into a community hub and new home for the village’s Post Office Stores.

A multi-year scheme, raising money to buy the building and secure planning permission to transform its interior, will hopefully see it reopen to the public in November.

Local firm Chappell and Dix has been appointed to carry out the refurbishment.

The ceilings have been removed in the main hall, providing good views of the roof space, and part of the dividing wall between the school and the village hall has now been taken down.

Martin Rea, who helped form the Sherston Old School Community Interest Company, the village group managing the new facility, is delighted with the progress.

He said: “It’s good to see something actually happening.

“It was great when we finally purchased the site but it’s really nice to see it starting to change.

“It has been a long, hard slog to get to this point.”

Funds have been secured to cover the first phase of the renovation and it is estimated that a further £150,000 will be needed to cover the second phase and complete the building’s refurbishment and conversion.