Members of a handy group from Bordon have their fingers crossed as their long wait for a permanent home could be coming to an end.

The crafty chaps at Bordon Men’s Shed are likely to find out next week whether their bid to establish a permanent workshop next to the Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre is a goer.

The group want to replace two storage containers at the back of the theatre with two ex-site cabins from Wernicks of Farnham, which they will convert into a workshop.

They’re currently operating from the centre’s existing shed but they’re keen to set up a long-term permanent home, having been forced to leave their previous workshop at Prince Philip Park.

“Our planning application to place two ex-site cabins has been received by the EHDC planning department,” said the group’s appropriately-named secretary, Clive Handy.

“They have told us we can expect a decision on the application after March 11.

“If this is favourable we await the freehold of the theatre and the land around it, which they have applied for through Homes England.

“This is expected very soon and is essential for us to proceed, as it will allow The Phoenix to do much more with their future projects without referral.”

Clive and his colleagues are hopeful of a summer launch date but they’ve been busy in the meantime, with recent tasks including the creation of a pirate ship for the “naughty panto” Robinson Crude-Soe at the theatre.

They’ve been commissioned to help with forthcoming production sets, while they also moved some large kerb stones to the front of the Station Road venue to prevent motorists from parking on the pavement.

Mr Handy added: “We were also contacted by Selborne Primary School to make some play toys for use in their outdoor area.”