Save your old clothes, save your pennies and save the world.

That’s the message from volunteers at Medway Council-run repair cafes which after a trial run are set to expand across the Towns.

With the popularity of the TV show The Repair Shop, more people are popping along to the monthly workshops at Strood Community Hub with their broken electrical goods, bikes and clothes.

There’s no need to book and it’s free to attend, with experts offering advice and help on fixing anything - instead of throwing items away.

Some sessions also have a volunteer who sharpens knives, sewing scissors and garden equipment such as secateurs.

Designed as fun, social occasions, the cafes can double up as a lifeline for those experiencing loneliness and isolation, and in promoting sustainable living.

They are also part of the authority’s response to the climate crisis.

So far, the team have helped carry out repairs on vacuum cleaners, toasters, bikes, toys and wooden items, along with numerous items of clothing.

Their skills have been put to the test with the occasional challenging item like a Roomba – a robotic vacuum cleaner - which took an entire session plus homework and a return visit where the owner learnt how to extract cat fur from the electrics.

Getting into the habit of fixing everyday items can help people save a fortune - as anyone who’s ever had to pay for a new school uniform will attest.

Following the success of the trial over the past six months, the cafe is set to continue, based principally at Strood Community Hub in the High Street, but visiting different libraries around Medway on alternate months.

People come to have a chat so it addresses loneliness too – there are so many benefits to it

Tania Earnshaw, community librarian said they had proved a big hit with users, and believed the initiative had multiple benefits.

She said: “It’s about getting these traditional skills back. You learn to repair clothes, and sew buttons, rather than going to the shops to buy a new cheap bit of clothing.

“It’s also about building up community resilience – allowing people to save money and share skills that might help others when they need them

“People come to have a chat so it addresses loneliness too – there are so many benefits to it.”

Explaining the reasoning behind its enduring popularity, Tania added: “I think it’s been a success because it’s built on passion – the volunteers have joined because they love what they’re doing and want to make a difference, and everyone else loves coming along to get things fixed, learn new skills and meet new people.”

With a growing number of volunteers, the cafe is becoming equipped to tackle an increasing variety of difficult repair challenges, with experts in fields as varied as leather working, electrical equipment and knife sharpening.

The sessions run monthly on Saturdays from 10.30am to 1pm.

The next one in Strood is on Saturday, July 20. Other dates are to be announced.