Paintbrushes and rollers were put to great use when Island Roads community service volunteers helped redecorate a village hall.

Chillerton and Gatcombe Community Association reached out to the Island’s highways contractor when it needed a hand to get the makeover done.

The hall is a hub of village life and hosts church groups, music sessions and coffee mornings as well as being available for private hire.

After village people had prepared the hall, five Island Roads employees, Pam Chinn, Maddy Clewett, Iain Thornton, Rachael Thornton and Geoff got their sleeves rolled up and gave the hall a freshen up in a fetching shade of light green.

Island Roads encourages its employees to undertake two days of community volunteering each year through its Employee Volunteering Scheme, and projects such as the village hall fit the bill.

The Island Roads team were well looked after by the community association committee, with tea, coffee, delicious home-baked cake and sausage rolls on offer all day.

Phillipa Veitch, association treasurer, said: “We cannot thank Ian, Rachael, Maddy, Pam and Geoff enough for all their help.

“They worked like Trojans (without needing constant instruction) and got on with the job so fast I almost wished we’d been organised enough to have the kitchen and bathroom ready to be painted as well.”

Streetworks manager Iain Thornton said: “It was grey and rainy outside but the mood inside was bright as we got to work on the hall.

“It is great to make a difference to our Island community and my colleagues and I enjoyed meeting people and helping out.”