BUDDING carpenters have been able to buy new workshop tools thanks to generous workers at a Hampshire company.

Southampton Special Purpose Workshop in Bevois Valley purchased 12 drills, extension bars and a spray gun for its disabled workers after Fortis Insurance in Eastleigh handed over £827 from a dress down day.

Manager and founder of the workshop Jim Parker said such impressive donations were invaluable in keeping the workshop running.

He said: "We have people with a range of disabilities working here. Some people have learning difficulties whereas others are deaf or blind. This money given to us means we are able to buy electrical equipment to make their lives easier. It would be hard to run without it. Without last year's Fortis donation we would never have been able to buy the panel saw we have now.

"All equipment needs to be safe enough for service users to handle without too much help so we can't just go out to the shop and buy a circle saw."

Established in 1993, the workshop started out with just eight people refurbishing old tools until gradually it became the first private day service in Hampshire.

Mr Parker said: "We had collected some tools and we were later asked to chop firewood. Collecting wood, we then used some of it to make bird boxes, bird tables and moved onto rabbit hutches."

Today 55 workers build pet houses and garden items to sell at the workshop's Bridge Road pet store.

An adjoining garage is also used to strip down cars for drag racing and recycling photocopiers.