A 30-year-old shed which has been privy to the history of St Peter's Church has been given a new lease of life after the rot set in thanks to two pensioners.

A 30-year-old shed which has been privy to the history of St Peter's Church has been given a new lease of life after the rot set in thanks to two pensioners.

The wooden shed was donated to the church three decades ago following the great storm of 1987, when the wooden construction was ripped from its base from a garden in Victoria Place.

The shed has become an important extension of the church - so when the roof sprung a leak, and the rot set it, it was decided the structure should undergo an overhaul.

When the church was told a replacement shed could cost up to �1,500, it was decided to spend �120 carrying out repairs.

The work had been due to start at the end of 2009, but was hampered when the worst winter for several decades set in.

Recently the work was completed by two 79-year-old men, who spent two days fixing the leaks.

The church hopes the work will give the shed a few more years of service.

A spokesperson for St Peter's Church said: "It is definitely not upright, as any good church shed should be, but the two old folks believe it is now waterproof again."

The shed originally belonged to Charles and Eivor Gardner.

It was erected next to St Peter's after Mr Gardner agreed the church could have the shed providing it arranged the move.

In the last 30 years it has been used to home a host of props and equipment belonging to a plethora of local groups, including Budleigh's music festival, flower festivals, church fairs, the Christmas crib and manger.