Craftsmen in developing countries have been given a helping hand by a group of like-minded men in Bordon.

Bordon Men’s Shed have donated a haul of unwanted tools and equipment to be repaired, refurbished and redistributed to poorer parts of the world.

The items donated to Tools With a Mission (TWAM) often come from garage clear-outs or craftsmen or engineers who decide to stop their hobby or cannot continue for personal or health reasons.

Bordon Men’s Shed is a staunch supporter of TWAM as the Christian charity delivered some of their previously donated tools around central and southern Africa last year.

The repaired and refurbished tools, which are delivered in 20ft containers, are creating livelihoods and transforming lives according to TWAM spokesman, Keith Holburn.

He said: “TWAM has five vans nationwide and the south central van based in Aldershot has covered 43,000 miles this year.

“So far TWAM has delivered 20 container loads of repaired and refurbished tools to many very grateful people in various countries.”

The July 31 collection in Bordon was the van’s last of the day having visited the Chichester and Petersfield Men’s Sheds before returning up the A325 to Aldershot. The van was scheduled to deliver the tools to TWAM’s headquarters in Ipswich on August 1 for shipping overseas.

Bordon Men’s Shed, which has donated items to TWAM for several years, is due to move into a new workshop behind the Phoenix Theatre before the end of the year. For more details visit www.bordonmensshed.com