Work has started on renovating a much-loved community centre with the help of an army of volunteers.

The Oast House in Rainham is to be refurbished following a campaign by residents in the town.

Locals decided last year that it was time to bring the building back to life. They approached Paul Clark, Labour parliamentary candidate for Gillingham and Rainham, for help and a working party was formed to get the project off the ground.

Mr Clark said: “This is a great building in the heart of Rainham with so much potential as a community hub."

The renovation started today (Thursday) when power company SSE, based at Medway Power Station in Grain, began replacing the lighting and redecorating the bar.

Offers of future help have also been secured from mhs homes, MidKent College and local signwriters, bricklayers, scaffolders and insulating firms.

A ‘DIY SOS’ day will be held on June 20, when local people can help re-decorate the inside of the building and landscape the grounds.

Working party member Liz O’Hanlon said: “We are still looking for all manner of support – painters and decorators, brickies, plasterers, people who can ‘upcycle’ old furniture, cleaners, gardeners – you name it, there is a job for everyone."

The Oast House, owned by Rainham and Wigmore Community Association, has been used as a community centre for 40 years and hosts activities ranging from a slimming group to live music.

It is home to a number of organisations including Deanwood Badminton Club, Gillingham Games Club, Rainham Folk Club and Granary Evangelical Church.

• Anyone with services to offer can email Oast@paulclark.org