ARCHITECTS have been selected to carry out work to restore Newbridge's historic Memorial Hall.

The Memo lost out on the 3 million prize in BBC2's Restoration programme last year but the community is still determined that the proposals to restore the "jewel of the valleys" will go ahead.

And now the James Part-nership, of Cardiff, has been appointed to carry out the work when funding is secured.

The architects say they are due to carry out a detailed survey of the building in March. Their next step will be to come up with detailed proposals, which will be submitted to the planning authority.

Gareth James, a partner with the firm, said: "The Memo is an incredible building. It is an undoubted treasure.

"The sooner we can get in there the better, before there is any further damage."

He said the James Partnership had also been responsible for the restoration of Cwmaman Hall and Institute, near Aberdare, which also has a theatre.

"It was a similar project and was a community scheme as well," he said.

"We have been to the Memo on several occasions and are pleased to have been chosen for this project."

The work, however, is still subject to securing funding.

Howard Stone, one of the leaders of the campaign to win the Restoration TV programme last summer, says an application has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for 50,000 to carry out a feasibility study. Once that is completed, possibly by June, an application could be made for the 3.5 million that is needed to bring the Memo back to its former glory.

Mr Stone says it is difficult to say when work could be complete, but hopes it could be finished in three years.