A NEWLY-formed group of volunteer woodwork enthusiasts has delivered its first commission – a giant storage cupboard for Wareham Youth Club.

The Wareham Area Men’s Shed was formed in the early summer and now has 25 members beavering away on a host of projects at its workshop in the Purbeck Connect centre in Sandford Lane.

A spin-off from a worldwide movement of 'shedders', it has the dual aim of making useful items for the community while giving both expert and novice volunteers a space to work together, share skills and make new friends.

The monster 8ft x 4ft x 2ft storage cupboard was created by shedders Stewart Fothergill and Phil Ashworth.

Joyce Spiller, the club’s operations trustee, said: "It’s brilliant because obviously at a youth centre there are an awful lot of activities going on and we need loads of storage space for things like sports equipment, art materials and games.

"The new cupboard looks great and is exactly what we wanted. We’re so pleased with it and are so grateful to Wareham Men’s Shed for doing this for us."

Stewart, who provided pipe organs for cathedrals and churches before retiring, said: "Everybody seems to be happy with it, which is good. I loved working on it. I could play all day with timber and it was terrific to make a new friend or two along the way."

The Wareham shed currently hosts two three-hour sessions per week, on Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings, but is aiming to expand.

Founder Chris Gates said: "We are raising funds to kit out the workshop with more tools and are actively looking for more projects commissioned both by private individuals and community groups. Anyone who fancies joining us would be more than welcome."