THE group searching for somewhere in Warminster to put a men’s shed could have found a suitable location.

The steering group is looking at a vacant shop, Unit 20, in the Three Horseshoes Walk shopping arcade just off the High Street.

Colin French, said: “The group has been offered a unit in Three Horseshoes walk retail centre.

“It’s suitable as a start up premises and if we can attain charity status then the finances are within reach.

“Meetings have been arranged with groups interested in using the space but it’s really too early to say that it is definitely going ahead.

“The key to all this is to get volunteer commitment, the same people, the doers, will always be the mainstay.”

The Warminster group has a committee, a constitution, a bank account, some funds and has met eight times.

The offer of the vacant shop from the owners of the shopping arcade came after the group had scoured the town for a space for the community facility.

The Shed is likely to be shared by a wide range of organisations for both men and women.

It could also be used to recycle plastic items and to provide refills for loose foodstuffs and detergents.

Mr French raised the prospect of Warminster having a Men’s Shed at the town’s annual meeting in April.

He told councillors and residents that Men’s Sheds were now very popular in the UK with nearly 500 up and running.

Mr French said: “They provide a place where men can meet and exchange ideas as well make new friends.”

Other Wiltshire towns have already have Mens Sheds, including Calne, Corsham, Devizes, Melksham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Trowbridge, Tidworth, Ludgershall and Westbury.

Nearby towns which are also looking at having a men’s shed include Bradford on Avon.

There are now 499 Men’s Sheds open in the UK and a further 140 in development, with an estimated 11,976 men directly benefitting from going to them.

Typically, the people who use them are retired or semi-retired people in their 60s, 70s and 80s, with practical skills and time on their hands to create, make and repair things for the benefit of their local community.

A spokesman for the UK Men’s Sheds Association said: “The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together.

“They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.”