MEDSTEAD village is a split community, with daggers drawn over the future of the derelict village hall.

Having endured the shock of witnessing the fire that ripped through their beloved hall on December 19 last year – a disaster that served at first to unite the village in a determination to see the building swiftly reinstated – a damaging row has now erupted over the eventual decision by the management committee to repair like for like.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.