CENTRAL EATING: A Cwmbran luncheon club is celebrating its first anniversary in a community hall once threatened with closure.

West Pontnewydd luncheon club has between 20 and 30 members aged 50 and over, who sit down every Monday to enjoy a healthy three-course lunch for just £2.50.

It's a far cry from the days when poor kitchen facilities hampered any attempts at large-scale catering at West Pontnewydd Community As-sociation Hall.

Torfaen Council's Healthy Living Initiative attributes the turnaround in the hall's fortunes to enthusiastic support from the local community backed by a £10,000 Big Lottery grant, which funded the installation of a modern, functional kitchen in April.

The new kitchen facilities proved the catalyst that was needed and the luncheon club was launched last September.

It has since gone from strength to strength, providing nutritious meals at low prices as well as somewhere for old and new friends to meet up for lunch once a week.

Healthy Living Manager, Nicola Bowen, explained: "The Big Lottery grant meant we could refurbish the kitchen and hire a chef to do the cooking, however it was our local volunteers and members of the hall committee who were at the heart of the hall's rejuvenation.

"People came forward to join the existing trustees and brought in fresh ideas and activities.

"The Healthy Living Lunch club is just one of the activities that have helped the trustees to turn things around so that we now have a thriving community hall."

To celebrate its anniversary the club held a special birthday lunch to thank the Healthy Living Team and Big Lottery Fund for their support.