Regent's Estate Pensioners' Hall has been repainted and the lighting improved after a campaign by Queensbridge Labour councillors.

Older people who use the Hall for events such as fitness clubs, social events and coffee mornings asked local councillors to help them lobby Hackney Homes to do up their centre.

Queensbridge councillors Tom Price, Emma Plouviez and Patrick Vernon wrote to Hackney Homes asking them to step in and deal with some basic repairs.

Unfortunately things seemed to be progressing very slowly so the local councillors invited the Mayor Jules Pipe, the council Chief Executive and a representative from Hackney Homes down to the Hall to see for themselves.

Following a meeting with the Pensioners' Club committee back in September some of the most pressing issues have been dealt with.

The shower in the toilet that was a serious health and safety concern has been removed. The heating system has been fixed so that it can now be turned off. The lighting - which was broken and ugly - is being upgraded.

And Hackney Homes arranged for volunteers from a City bank to come down and repaint the Hall and make good all the interior walls.

Councillor Patrick Vernon said: "I'm really pleased that by making a fuss and asking the Mayor to intervene we have been able to get something done for the older people that use this Hall.

"We are now going to work with the Pensioners' Club to see if there is anything else we can help with - perhaps raising a bit of money for some better equipment."

Queensbridge Councillors hold a surgery in the Pensioners' Hall on the third Saturday of every month between 10am and 11am.