A 1940s-style ball raised £1,000 towards buying land next to a village hall.

Navestock Village Society held the event to raise funds to help buy the plot in Navestock Side.

The site, which will cost about £120,000, is used for local events, including the annual village show.

Roy Tyzack, village society chairman, said: “It was very important to ensure that the land did not fall into the wrong hands and we wanted to assist the parish council with the purchase.”

Sixty or so guests dressed up in uniforms and 1940s clothing and there was authentic music from the era and a slap-up bangers and mash meal for everybody.

Roy added: “The village society steering group members did all the cooking and worked really hard to make the night the success that it was.”