Somerset men's group takeover Victorian railway station

Axe Valley Men's Shed wants to turn the building into a community asset

A men's group that helps promote good mental health has taken over a former railway station as a new headquarters.

The Axe Valley Men's Shed offers advice for woodworking and gardening and runs activities, including a model railway club and thai chi lessons.

The group now want to refurbish Axbridge Railway Station, which dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria.

The building would become the new permanent home for the group with a lease for at least 99 years.

The former railway station used to connect Yatton to Witham and closed to passengers in 1963.

Stuart Berwick is part of the group fundraising to renovate the building

The group said they have already started meetings in the building with a membership of more than 60 people.

The group has now launched a campaign to help pay for immediate work.

Stuart Berwick, Axe Valley's Men's Shed treasurer, told the BBC: "We've always had our eye on the station. Out of the blue, the opportunity arose and we felt as a committee and the other trustees that we just had to go for it.

"We've thrown the pot, kitchen sink and everyone's piggy banks to get to the point we've taken on the lease, all the legal commitments around it to take it on formally and do it the right way.

"Where we go with this is down to how much funding we can raise. It won't be instant, it will be bit by bit," he added.

"The key thing is to open it back up again and make it look like it is a community asset that is in use regularly, and is fit for purpose."

The group now want to rennovate the inside of the building

Axbridge Town Council took on the lease of the building and will now sub-let it to the group for community use.

Mr Berwick said: "We're desperate to raise funds to do the immediate work that needs to be done to get the place safe and secure for people to come along and use it."

The Axe Valley Men's Shed will be open on 27 and 28 December to provide a warm space and company for people over the Christmas period, it said.