A NEW repair cafe is set to open in Stourbridge this weekend.

The community-led volunteer initiative will launch on Saturday September 28 in the Made in Stourbridge shop in The Ryemarket shopping centre.

Run by eco group Transition Stourbridge, the venture will be open from 10am until 2pm that day and will be there again every fourth Saturday of each month with the exception of December.

Members of the public are invited to take along broken or faulty items such as a hairdryer or toaster - or favourite garment - that needs repairing, and one of the group's skilled repairers will set to work or offer advice.

To find out more email repaircafe.Stourbridge@gmail.com or check out Transition Stourbridge page on Facebook.

Marion Meadows, from the repair cafe, said: "We live in a throwaway society where it is often cheaper and easier to just take goods to landfill and buy new items.

"As a consequence we are using up finite resources, contributing to climate change and as a society losing the skills of repair and mend, to say nothing of the spending of our hard earned cash on replacements.

"Repair Cafe Stourbridge is on a mission to contribute to a change of culture, to mend and repair in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and to encourage people to see the alternative to dispose and replace."

She said members of the public can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a home-made cake while they wait and there is no set charge for repair, advice or the refreshments - although donations will be welcomed as the venture is a non-profit-making and non-funded initiative.

She said those in need of repairs will be encouraged to sit with the repairers to pick up advice and skills themselves.