They fix everything from an old necklace to a modern TV and are intent on saving the planet one broken bicycle at a time.

The Repair Café at Brazley Community Centre in Horwich is using its regular sessions to mend items of all kinds, helping retain individual skills that could easily be lost in today’s throwaway society.

As part of a worldwide movement to fix things that started in Amsterdam in 2009, volunteers are preventing thousands of kilos of waste each year.

The Horwich Repair Café, where payment is by donation, is one of more than 3,000 around the world.

They involve an estimated 48,000 plus volunteers repairing around 58,000 items a month.

The atmosphere at this local café, which meets on the third Saturday afternoon of each month from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, is buzzy, friendly and fascinating.

Nicky, Rachel, Linda and Carol are busy sewing in one area.

They are experts in invisible sewing and mending. “But we can also make a tear in jeans look like a feature”, explained Nicky.

They are currently absorbed in repairing the moth holes of an old tweed coat “with sentimental value.”

They don’t do alterations, however, and the Café generally is careful not to cut across local businesses offering various services, signposting people to them.

Anne Lee, who started the Horwich Repair Café two years ago, stated that the volunteer experts’ work covers a couple of main areas including sewing, electrical appliances, bikes, jewellery and household items.

Anything that doesn’t plug in is the remit of the Fettlers who basically tackle anything. There is also someone fixing mobile phones, another mending jewellery and Paul who is an expert on bikes.

What the 18 or so volunteers all plainly do is allow vital items to be re-used, ensure much-loved possessions stay that way and save people money in replacement costs.

It’s a sensible way to recycle and provides a genuine local service.

As Aggie, who lives in Horwich and came in with a much-treasured old standard lampstand, said: “They do a great job here and save many things that would have had to be thrown out otherwise.”

They help all ages. One little boy, upset because his bike’s stabilisers were broken, and an elderly man with dementia heartbroken when his model comfort dog’s tail stopped wagging can easily attest to their practical skills.

The Repair Café has also become a place where people can gather in a warm, safe atmosphere. There’s tea, coffee and a variety of homemade cakes plus a friendly welcome.

Whether you’ve got a wind-up clock that won’t work, a torn coat in need of invisible mending or a broken iron, this helpful service offers a genuine welcome.

.To find out more about Horwich Repair Café’s services and how to volunteer go to www.facebook.com/horwichrepaircafe or email horwichrepaircafe@gmail.com