More than 40 items were brought along to a first Repair Cafe event, which proved a huge success.

A team of some 14 experts managed to get the vast majority fully or partially back to working order.

Among the items repaired at the first event last weekend were a lightsaber, Nespresso machine, sewing machine, and a teapot with a broken leg.

Also fixed by the team were a teddy with holes in hat, hairdryer, foot massager, lamp, and suitcase.

One of the six men who got together to lead the event in St Margarets, Colin Messenger, said: "The lightsaber was very difficult, but we did it. The force was definitely with us."

A growing network of the Repair Cafes aim to tap into a growing backlash against a 'throwaway culture' by promoting the philosophy or repair and re-use.

Mr Messenger said: "Some 43 items needed repairing. Half were electrical and two thirds were repaired fully or partially."

Half of the people who went along to the event at the St Margarets Church Hall lived with a 1.5mile radius.

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One of the happy attendees described it as a wonderful experience, saying: "I learnt both about the appliance as well as the general layout."

Another said: "Fantastic, everything well explained, very happy."

Looking ahead to future events, Mr Messenger said: "We still need repairers for: Clocks, Jewellery, more electrical and additional volunteers to help run the sessions."

The next event will be on March 19 and – in future – on the third Saturday of the month at St Margarets Church Hall (opposite St Margarets train station) from 10:30am-1pm.