Staff and volunteers at a Chippenham charity say they are overjoyed to welcome back customers.

Just ten days after opening after lockdown in April, the charity’s building on Hungerdown Lane was destroyed by flooding. It meant £25,000 in lost income.

Waste Not Want Not reopened after a major refurbishment this week (July 26.)

“It was a relief coming back,” said volunteer Julie Butt.

“It took a lot of work getting the place ready and cleaning ahead of Monday, but we made it. It feels like a second home here.”

While closed, the charity was still able to make deliveries and advertised their wares through their Facebook page, run by staff member Rose Loud.

“We all are so happy to be back,” she said.

“You don’t realise how much people are struggling in your community until you work on a project like this. It’s really important socially but also for the planet. It saves so much from going to landfill.”

Waste Not Want Not takes donations of furniture and household goods, in good condition, reselling them at affordable prices to those on low income, so they can create a comfortable home.

There is currently a 20% off deal to celebrate reopening week for the charity.

Phil Reade, manager of Waste Not Want Not, added that all the stock in their newly refurbished site is of the upmost quality.

He said: “Often people get social housing through the council or a charity but then walk into their new home, and don’t have the necessities like a bed or a table. We want to make that aspect of their recovery as simply as possible.

“We have been able to work through Facebook while we were shut, but being able to get people in through the doors again is special.”

The charity is also on the look out for more volunteers.

Anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a trustee should email Phil at wnwn303@aol.com.