Turning timber offcuts into cash for hospice

A tool expert at a DIY store is using his carpentry skills to make spectacular wooden creations from timber offcuts.

Colin Petterson, who works for B&Q in Canterbury, is now selling his handiwork at the store to raise money for the Pilgrims Hospice.

The idea was the brainchild of manager Mark Coombs, who is encouraging his team to use their skills to turn unwanted materials into a way of raising money for charity.

He said: “Customers became so interested in the work that Colin was doing that they started to request bespoke pieces.

“We put them on display and asked customers to make closed bids for each item with all the funds raised going to the Pilgrims Hospice.

“We have set ourselves a target of raising a minimum of £1,000 and, with such an brilliant response from our customers, we’re confident we can reach it.”

So far, Colin’s creations have included a rocking dinosaur, a replica carriage from the popular TV show Game of Thrones and a steam locomotive engine.

Customers can make donations to the hospice in the store in Sturry Road or make a sealed bid for one of Colin’s creations.

Colin Petterson at work in B&Q – his creations from offcuts are being sold for charity