Plans to repair and transform Merthyr Tydfil's Grade II*-listed Old Town Hall into a new cultural and creative centre for the South Wales town has received a £2m funding boost.

Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association (MTHA) secured the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to safeguard the future of the building, which has been derelict for a decade.

Part of wider efforts to regenerate the town centre, the Old Town Hall is set to benefit from an extensive overhaul and adaptation and will offer new education spaces when complete.

MTHA chief executive Karen Dusgate said: "We will be working with our partners and the community so the building comes alive again - it's crucial to the regeneration of Merthyr Tydfil."

Dan Clayton Jones, chair of HLF in Wales, added: "This is a fantastic new venture that will bring a building back to life while responding to the community's need for a dedicated cultural centre."