THE history of a town’s community hub has been captured in a stunning mural.

Dalton’s former Drill Hall, now Dalton Community Association, has seen its wall decorated with artwork showing the timeline of the building.

Once used by soldiers in World War Two, the 91-year-old building in Nelson Street is now used by thousands of people every month.

The mural was drawn by artist Hannah Willetts and was the result of ten months of work, which included research into the history of the building by students at Dowdales School.

Miss Willetts, 31, who works at The Gallery in Barrow, said: “It has been really interesting to come in every week to work on the mural.

“After all the work I have put it it’s great that it has finally come together.”

Barry Doughty, chairman of Dalton Community Association, said: “The mural has attracted a lot of interest from everyone who has come into the centre.

“Hannah’s work has inspired to create other things.

“It forms part of our heritage project to look at the history of the building.”

This year has seen Dalton Community Association explore the history of the centre through a Heritage Lottery-funded project called Drill Hall Identity.

The project is looking to encapsulate its storied history through an exhibition, a book and a drama.

In a previous guise the building was used as the assembly hall for Nelson Street Girls’ School.

The exhibition display created as part of the project will tour around the town and eventually be kept on show there permanently.

The book focusing on the history of the building will be created this year, edited by Ron Creer, organiser of Furness Literature Festival.

The building is now home to various community groups and also includes Dalton’s library.

Mr Doughty said organisers from the Heritage Lottery Fund recently visited the centre and told him it was perfect use of the £8,000 grant given to the group.

A website has also been created for the heritage project at drillhallidentity.co.uk.