A town hall will open its doors after nearly a decade of being closed.

Baldock Town Hall in the High Street will now be known as the Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre, after it was taken over by a community group wanting to bring it back into use for the arts, as well as education and training purposes.

Aside from the museum, and with the exception of an arts festival in 2008, the town hall has been closed since 2005.

The centre already has a full list of events for October, starting with The Chris Walker Swingtet, who will be providing a classic selection of swing and jazz next Saturday, October 5.

This will be the first event organised by the Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre in the building.

The community group was formed after North Herts District Council, which owns the building, decided the town hall was surplus to requirements in March 2011.

The local authority gave the group a year to come up with a viable business plan to secure the future of the building.

If the plan had failed, the council could have opted to sell the building, but in April 2012 the council agreed to give the town hall to the community group on a long-term lease.

Chairman Alison Gentle said: “We wouldn’t be where we are without the probation service, who provided people to help out, and volunteers, who have painted, cleaned and lent their time.

“We are very excited about being able to hold this first event after all the hard work. It will be open for the community finally, which was our aim.

“As well as positive support from the local people, North Herts District Council has helped with funding and been very supportive in our efforts to get this project off the ground.”

Tickets for The Chris Walker Swingtet event are on sale in Staffy B on the High Street, Baldock Community Centre on Simpson Drive, and the Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre.

For more visit www.bthl.org.uk