ONE of Liverpool's most historic town halls has been restored with the help of more than £200,000 lottery funding.

Toxteth town hall has become a focus for dozens of community groups since its regeneration was kick-started in 2003.

Community leaders welcomed Culture minister David Lammy to the High Park Street hall to mark the refurbishment and to celebrate the building's 140th birthday.

Work includes the restoration of the main hall, described as the "jewel in the crown" of the building,, with its original paint colours and period details; new railings; repaired flagstones and guttering, and better disabled access.
Mr Lammy praised the restoration and said it showed while the focus for much of the recent investment in Liverpool was the city centre, the city was "so much more".



Town hall managing director Denise Devine said: "It was the community that set up the company, bought the building and developed it over the past nine years."