PEWSHAM people no longer have to walk or drive into the centre of Chippenham to have a cup of coffee or find something for their children to do after Chippenham Christian Fellowship opened its cafe.

Cafe Spero, which is at the back of the Wood Lane church, opened its doors for the first time on Friday evening after pastor Keith Wilson and his team secured £10,000 worth of funding from the Chippenham Local Youth Network and the Chippenham Area Board.

“It has been a vision that we have had for some time,” the pastor said. “We wanted to open a cafe in the Pewsham area because There is not much for people to do or go up here without walking into the town centre.

“We had a hall in the church that wasn’t being utilised properly, so we looked at building the cafe in the front of the church but after looking at the costs we opted for opening it at the back.

“There isn’t much for younger people to do in this area, and as we’re quite close to Abbeyfields School and have lots of youths pass us on a daily basis, we wanted to provide something for them too.”

The cafe, which has a number of activities from air hockey to table tennis, has trained baristas to offer hot and cold drinks and affordable snacks and food.

“Cllr Howard Greenman opened the cafe for us on Friday and everyone seemed really pleased with it,” Mr Wilson added.

“We have had this idea for a number of years but it has really only come together in the last year. The area board and the Local Youth Network gave us £10,000 in total, and we put that together with our own fundraising to set up the cafe and help serve the community.

“It is really encouraging to see this project fulfilled at last and with Wiltshire Council, who have worked with us from start to finish.”

The cafe, which is now open on Thursday from 8.15am-6.30pm and 3-5.30pm on Friday, hopes to expand its hours in the future and to build a decking area for the summer.

Councillor Peter Hutton, chairman of the Chippenham Local Youth Network, said: “This wonderful community project highlights the value of partnership working and seeing a direct benefit to the local community.”

“I am delighted that we were able to support this and I wish them well for the future success of this project.”

For more information or to view the menu, visit www.chippenhamchristianfellowship.co.uk.