Residents of an historic Devon market town are celebrating after funding for the refurbishment of their town hall was confirmed.

Crediton's Grade II listed hall is to be restored with close to �100,000 of South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) money.

The cash will be used to provide space for a tourist information centre, cr�che facilities, a youth caf� and IT suite.

There will also be a large function hall which will be used by community groups and business support services.

The RDA is helping to inject new life into one of Devon's finest historic market towns John Barkham, RDA

The Crediton Area Development Trust owns the building and its chairman, David Burks, said he was "delighted" at the news.

"I know the project has enormous support and I am sure that everyone will be celebrating the good news."

'New life'

The town hall restoration is just one of a number of schemes aimed at regenerating the town, which has a population of about 7,000.

RDA-funded schemes like the town square improvements and Market and Coastal Towns initiative are designed to benefit businesses, locals and tourists alike.

"Crediton has had its fair share of problems, not least of which was the foot and mouth crisis which lead to the town's successful application into the RDA's Market & Coastal Towns initiative back in July 2001," said John Barkham of the RDA.

"By providing �96,000 for the town hall and �1.4 million for the town square improvements, the RDA is helping to inject new life into one of Devon's finest historic market towns."