Churchgoers in Clevedon have launched an appeal to raise £1 million to transform a run-down hall into a 21st-century centre for the community.

Leaders at St John's Church have drawn up plans to refurbish St John's Church hall in Hillside Road.

The hall, which sits next to the church, is called Elton Hall because it was given to the church by the Elton Family of Clevedon Court in 1926.

Over the years it has been a hub of activity, used for concerts, theatre, dances and social functions.

But it has become tired and is in desperate need of a makeover to bring it up to modern standards.

The plans include extending the hall, linking it to the church and creating a new entrance.

New toilets, offices and a kitchen will be created along with a meeting room, and the building will be made accessible for wheelchairs.

There are also plans to create better dressing rooms for amateur dramatic and musical events, install new lighting and sound systems and put in new heating.

The gardens around the church will be landscaped with a wildlife area created.

Church leaders are hoping to apply to the National Lottery and other funding bodies to raise the money needed to pay for the work.

A local fundraising appeal has also been launched and letters have been sent to more than 100 organisations in the town asking for their support.

A series of events, such as concerts, are planned over the next few months to bolster appeal funds.

If the money is raised and planning permission secured, it is hoped to start work on the project in the autumn of 2010, with the building being completed in July 2011.

The hall is already used by a number of community groups for activities such as yoga, dancing and dog training.

It is hoped that when complete, even more community groups will come forward and use the hall.

Project manager and church warden Tony Wring said: "The hall has become tired over the years and is in desperate need of some investment.

"This is a very exciting time for the church and the wider community and the new hall will be a major resource for the whole town.

"The hall is already used extensively by many groups for such activities as concerts, dancing, jumble sales, dog training, aerobics and martial arts.

"But we envisage much more and want the whole of Clevedon to get behind the project.

"Among other things we will be providing facilities for amateur dramatics, wedding receptions, summer and winter schools and a meeting place for professional bodies."

The church has a congregation of around 70 which is led by the Reverend Roger Jackson.

A fund raising gala is being held on August 28 to celebrate the launch of the project.

There will be performances by the Minerva Quartet and 13-year-old oboist Lavinia Redman who won the Rotary Young Musician of the Year last year and who is now principal oboe in the National Children's Orchestra.