Church volunteers put their new �40,000 kitchen to good use when they opened its doors for a special lunch.

More than 100 people attended the event on Saturday October 6 to mark the official opening of the new commercial kitchen at Harold Wood Methodist Church in The Drive, Harold Wood.

Volunteer Barbara Pyle said: “It was really nice to be in the kitchen and putting it to good use.

“Everyone had a nice time.”

The event included prayers and thanksgiving by Reverend Wesley Hampton, followed by speeches from Cllr Brian Eagling (Harold Wood, RA).

Other attendees included members of the church’s Tuesday lunch time club and members of the congregation.

Barbara said: “My husband Alan cut the ribbon and it was just a really nice day.

“It was good that we could all come together and celebrate.”

The church volunteers applied for a grant of �40,000 from the Biffa Award in January and in May they found out that their application had been successful.

Work on transforming the new kitchen started in August.

The new stainless steel kitchen boasts a heated cupboard, two fridges and two freezers and a cooker.

Barbara said: “The old kitchen was a nightmare to cook in at times, the cookers use to burn everything.

“We had cupboard doors hanging, it was just a botch kitchen.

“This one is just so much nicer.”

The volunteers hold a Tuesday lunch club where they cook meals for senior citizens.

They are now hoping to expand the service.

Anyone interested in attending the club, should book an appointment by calling Ann Barnes on 01268 456 433.