Parishioners at a village church have had their prayers answered, thanks to a generous donation from a housebuilder.

Worshippers had appealed for help to improve the Cornerstone community hall, in Bishopton, which is in dire need of heating improvements and a new boiler ahead of the winter months.

Now they have received a £1,100 donation from Bellway towards the upgrades.

Ian Earnshaw, property convener at Bishopton Parish Church, told The Gazette: “The Cornerstone is very well used and any improvements to the building will be of benefit to the whole community.

“The church welcomes all new residents of all ages and looks forward to building a vibrant community in Bishopton.

“We are very grateful to Bellway for galvanising all the contractors in the area into action and the money takes us closer to our fundraising target.”

A key hub for the local community, the Cornerstone dates back to 1899, when it was known as the Erskine Halls.

It was completely modernised in 2007 and hosts the local Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade, church activities and independent clubs such as zumba and out-of-school care.

Andy Borland, head of construction for Bellway Homes (Scotland West), said: “When we heard about the boiler situation, we were very keen to see what we could do to help as we have heard from local people how important the Cornerstone is to them.

“I would like to thank our amazing contractors for their kind donations and support on this exciting project.”

Companies which donated to the fund include STSC, Blythe Construction, H&M Cleaning, Rowan Timber, Taranto Ltd, Jordan McDermott, Albar and BS Plumbing.