With the row still rumbling on about parish meetings being held on licenced premises, there could be an answer where small hamlets such as East Chiltington lack a meeting place.

They may like to look at the tiny Shropshire village of Bronygarth.

Three man-made Mongolian yurts opened to villagers there earlier this summer. Yurts are sturdy and warm tent-like structures that are used by nomadic mongolian tribes for shelter.

The village united behind a year-long project to build them and a local landowner donated three mature ash trees for the frames.

Aided by a £4,000 Community Services Grant from the Countryside Agency, villagers helped to steam the timber, bending it to shape and tying together the trellis walls.

Fabric roof covers were produced by Per Lindstand's hot air balloon factory nearby.

The yurts were presented to the village at a celebration summer party. The villager who came up with the unusual community scheme said the idea has brought the whole village together.

There should be no problem for East Chiltington PC if they still intend to purchase a section of land which is nicely tucked away and I would be happy to supply some mature ash trees.

I must say the yurts look quite cosy and they would certainly add some colour to the tiny hamlet.

-Mrs M Clark, Lewes