THE Men's Shed in Bradford on Avon are making big progress with the development of the project.

A men's shed provides a community space for people to meet up and work on skills.

Volunteer, Peter Vandor, 65, from Downs View in Bradford on Avon said: "We didn't have premises so we had to find somewhere suitable. We communicated with the football club and found out there was nothing happening with the sheds it was a dumping ground.

"The place gives us a bit of socialising and team work as we're constructing sections and benches. We have been working on it a couple of months but typically some sheds make bird boxes do gardening, refurbish old tools.

"The sooner we're up and running the better but the more people we have the better. We're putting in installation hopefully in the next five weeks. It is for both men and women but particularly to help older men as they're more likely to be lonely.

They're hoping to have the shed, which is on Trowbridge Road on the football club, ready by Easter.

Chairman Peter Eveleigh, 73, from Culver Road in Bradford on Avon said: "There are over 600 sheds in the country. I've worked with wood all my life so it keeps me out of trouble.

"We use to have the Avon Club, GEC Melksham and Leeks Melksham but around 65 were dropped. Men used to have great support but all that's gone. The comradery has gone. So loneliness has become an issue which means mental issues go up. So men's shed is doing a jolly good job so this is phase one of the build programme."

They are on site on Tuesdays from 10- 1am. The next meeting is on March 12 at 6pm in the Swan Hotel, Bradford on Avon.