A new community space in which men can come together to share practical skills and knowledge is set to open in the Dengie.

The Essex Shed Network, long-term local member Alan Woods and Sarah Troop, the director of Maldon and District Community Voluntary Service (MDCVS), received the keys to the budding Men's Shed at Southminster station yesterday (Monday, 20 September).

The Essex Shed Network transforms sheds across the county into safe spaces which allow men to come together, chat and share tools while engaging in practical projects.

The Dengie Shed, which used to be a leather workshop and comes equipped with workstations, will be used to host a Men in Sheds project for local men to come together and share practical skills.

Sarah said: "I am so pleased to be able to receive the keys of this great community space.

"We have been dreaming of having a Men in Sheds project on the Dengie since we opened the Maldon Shed in 2014.

"A lot of hard work and perseverance have finally got us to this stage and we are keen to hit the ground running and make this space open to the community as soon as possible."

As a first step, the Essex Shed Network will be organising a working party to sweep and sort the space to get it ready for the project to launch.

The team hope to turn the former waiting room next to the old workshop, which has fallen into disrepair, into a social space to complement the refurbished shed.

There are also plans to refresh station planters and refurbish the community garden that runs alongside the station platform.

Sarah said the team will be working alongside the community network rail team at Essex County Council to "create a welcoming environment for commuters and other station users".

She also thanked the Essex Community Foundation for helping to fund the project.

The Essex Shed Network will be looking for local men to take on a range of roles for the project in the coming month.

If you want to be involved, please contact MDCVS on 01621 851891 or email [email protected].