A RINGWOOD charity is celebrating after its new premises became fully operational.

The Tools for Self Reliance workshop, which was donated by the Raymond Brown Construction Group, is now ready for use.

The workshop, which is next door to the Ringwood Police Station on Christchurch Road, had been empty for some time.

Volunteers have been working for weeks to make them habitable and ready to refurbish old tools given to them for use in the Third World.

The only remaining issue was a leaking roof and to replace it was going to cost money the charity did not have. But Geoff Kynaston, managing director of Century 21 Business Products in Chaseside agreed to sponsor the charity for three years and his first year's donation paid for a new roof.

The workshop now houses six benches donated by Journal readers and is “overflowing” with tools to be refurbished.

Volunteer Laurie Dormer said: “The 20 volunteers currently helping once or twice a week are now able to work in a warm and dry environment but more are urgently needed.

“There are just not enough volunteers coming to the workshop each week to refurbish the steady flow of tools and this means that stocks are building faster than finished tools are leaving. This will soon be causing pressure on space.

“If any Journal readers are able to offer two hours a week to work on cleaning and sharpening the tools they will be welcomed with open arms.”

Call Mr Dormer on 01425 475440.