AGE UK's Men in Sheds Hartford group has been celebrating its 10th birthday this week.

The Mayor, Cllr Alison Gerard attended the event where she welcomed members of the shed both past and new as well as people affiliated with the shed and people in the local community.

Guests were invited to afternoon tea with a ‘shed’ themed cake whilst the mayor also said a few words in honour of the occasion.

Amanda Hodgkinson, senior Men in Sheds project co-ordinator, said: “It was a fantastic turn out for our 10-year celebrations.

“The men really enjoyed coming together to look through the old photographs and reminisce about the sheds and different projects undertaken over the years.

“It was nice to see so many members there as well as people interested in finding out more about joining.

“The Men in Sheds project has changed so many lives over the past 10 years and it means so much to so many people.

“When we first began the project, Hartford shed was the first shed in the UK – basing our shed on the original Australian Mens Sheds project - and now there are over 470 sheds in the UK.

“It has been incredible to see the concept go from strength to strength and be a part of something so wonderful.”

The Men in Sheds project was officially opened in Hartford by Age UK Cheshire on January,30 2009 and soon expanded to Crewe, Chester and Ellesmere Port, with a fifth shed due to open in Winsford this Spring.

The shed received funding from the National Lottery and now provides workshop facilities for men over the age of 55 across four sheds in Cheshire - Chester, Northwich, Crewe and Ellesmere Port.