A DESPERATE bid to find new premises has been launched by a Ringwood charity tackling Third World poverty after the news its headquarters is for sale.

The Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR), based in a workshop on the Raymond Brown yard, needs to find a new home within weeks.

The yard sale announcement has come as a bitter blow to the volunteer-run charity, which refurbishes tools for communities in Africa, including Tanzania.

The charity has now issued a plea to help find a new accommodation.

TFSR has almost doubled in size since being housed in the workshop, which it was given by Raymond Brown after its former Christchurch Road site was flooded 18 months ago.

Charity spokesman Laurie Dormer said: “Since we have moved here the number of volunteers has increased from 15 to more than 30 and the production of tools for Africa has increased as a consequence.

“Instead of being open two mornings a week we are open every day and the flow of donated tools has increased four-fold.”

Mr Dormer added: “We are going to lose our workshop. As a result we are looking for a new location to house our six workbenches and the hundreds of tools that are stored here.

“We are looking for an unused barn, outbuilding or small industrial unit or even land that we could put our own building on it.”

Raymond Brown spokesman Kelvin White said: “It is unfortunate that we have to ask them to go.

“They are a fantastic group.”

If anyone has ideas for new accommodation they can contact Mr Dormer on 01425 475440.