Metric spanners, ripsaws and gouges are just a few secondhand tools desperately needed by Holt Men’s Group to aid charity projects in Africa.

The group of 10 retired men have been repairing and cleaning secondhand tools for nearly 30 years and work with the charity Tools for Self Reliance to put together kits to send to six African countries – Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Geraint Owen, 67, of Church Street in Hilperton, has been a member of the Men’s Group for seven years and helps co-ordinate the donations.

He said: “I’ve seen thousands of tools come and go but we really need specific hand tools to complete a kit.

“Carpentry kits are the most popular and we need people to donate tinsnips, gauges, ripsaws and metric spanners in particular, as African requirements have converted to a metric system. To be honest, any general hand tools would be appreciated.”

The group meets every Wednesday morning at the United Reformed Church in Holt, where members make a kit specified to an order given by the charity.

Once the kits have been assembled, they are then sent off every two to three months to projects which focus on carpentry, woodwork, electrics and leather work.

Mr Owen added: “All the members are keen to get more tools whether it means giving talks to groups or by spreading our work through word-of-mouth.”

Donations can be delivered to the United Reform Church on The Street, Holt, on Wednesday mornings from 9am, or call Geraint Owen to arrange a pick-up on 01225 752555.