Volunteer menders and owners of broken items gathered in Royston on Sunday for East Anglia’s first Repair Cafe.

Two bikes, two TV’s, two printers, a chair, a stool, and a child’s upholstered armchair were among 24 items brought to the Meridian School, in Garden Walk, on Sunday for assessment and, where possible, repair.

Repairers showed owners how to do the repairs wherever possible, and Tina Filby was pleased to learn how to solder by working on her much-loved Roberts radio with Repair Cafe co-organiser Dermot Byrne.

While only nine items were fully repaired, all other owners but one were advised about getting further help from local contacts. Only one item was declared to be ‘beyond repair’ but even this was taken for spares by one of the expert repairers.

Volunteer Katherine Lee booked in owners and their broken items as they arrived and collated feedback after the event. She was delighted with the response. “Everyone appreciated the friendliness and helpfulness of the volunteer repairers, even where a fix was not possible. Most said they’d be back for the next Repair Cafe event which will be in around three months,” she said.

For further information about the Royston Repair Cafe, go to www.facebook.com/RoystonRepairCafe