Meet the team that is repairing Harborough's broken items - and saving stuff that would have gone to landfill

Sue Crowe pleased with her repaired fan by Grahame Every.

Record numbers attended the third Market Harborough Repair Cafe on Saturday at the Congregational Church.

People from all over the area took along 70 items which would have been thrown into landfill.

The event was organised by Community Interest Company, Market Harborough Fixers, set up earlier this year.

Ruthie Mott who makes jewellery made from recycled vinyl records during the third repair cafe event.

Ecstatic group secretary Suzanne Reddi said: "We were delighted by the turnout on Saturday.

“We had our busiest event to date.

“At our first Repair Cafe held in May we had 17 items brought along.

“Then in August it increased to 40 and now we have nearly doubled that figure.”

Darren Woodiwiss during the third repair cafe event.

She added: “The support from the public has been amazing."

Items repaired and saved from the bin included clothes, toys, books, garden tools and electrical items, including two food processors and three radios.

"Not all items could be fixed," said Suzanne.

“But for those items not saved we gave advice on where people can get spare parts from.

Chairman Barbara Johnson with her repaired neckless.

“So hopefully they can bring them back to future events and if the item is beyond repair we let people know how to recycle it or dispose of it responsibly."

A film crew was also there on behalf of the Carling Made Local Fund run by Marston's brewery which has donated £820 to Market Harborough Fixers.

The cash has funded electrical PAT test equipment and training to use the kit for three volunteer fixers.

PAT testing certificates are awarded to business owners after portable appliances have been successfully tested.

Hard at work during the third repair cafe event.

A video of the event will soon be online showing volunteers repairing and testing items saved from the bin.

Group chairman Steve Cousens said: "The funding has been essential for us.

"Safety is crucial.

“Every electrical item that is repaired is PAT tested to ensure it will be safe to use once people take their belongings back home.

“Electrical goods make up about 50 per cent of items repaired and without the PAT test equipment and training to use it none of these items could have been saved."

A Carling Made Local Fund spokesperson said: "We really like the sustainability element of the Repair Cafe.

Busy scenes during the third repair cafe event.

“This sort of hub is the voice of the local people."

Backing the project was Cllr Barbara Johnson, chairman of Harborough District Council, who took a necklace to be repaired.

Information on future events can be found on Facebook pages Market Harborough Fixers and Harborough Go Green.