CAMPAIGNERS who want to restore Hay-on-Wye’s Cheese Market have secured lottery funding.

The Hay-on-Wye Community Enterprise CIC (community interest company) had cause to celebrate this week after their bid for £259,000 Heritage Lottery Fund money made it through the first round.

The local action group has now been awarded a £33,000 development grant to move their plans to repair the run-down Grade-II listed building and bring it back into community use another step closer to reality.

Residents and businesses have been campaigning to save the former market building since 2008.

Last year they agreed a deal with Powys County Council to take control of the site under a 99-year lease at a peppercorn rent.

Their plan is to restore the building to its original form and used it for community activities such as a heritage trail and photo exhibitions.

There are also plans to transform the upper floor into a holiday let to make the project sustainable.

For more information see cheesemarket.org.