OLD tables and chairs from a cathedral are being resurrected by disabled volunteers.

Furniture no longer needed at Durham Cathedral has been donated to The Wood Pile, a community interest company where disabled and disadvantaged people recycle waste wood and upcycle wooden furniture.

Some items have already been re-sold and others are available to buy.

Karen Stubbings, managing director of the Durham City-based charity, said: “With furniture like this, we work with our service users to restore it so that we can sell it on.

“This may involve sanding down pieces, performing small repairs and re-finishing the items in paint, wax or varnish if required.

“It’s wonderful to receive such a large number of items so that our service users can continue to develop their skills by working on the furniture, which will later be sold and the profits ploughed back into the work we do here with local people.”

Vanessa Ward, the Cathedral’s business manager, said: “We had a large number of chairs from the old restaurant that we hoped might be able to be donated to a good home.

“When we heard about the work of The Wood Pile, we felt theirs would be an excellent cause.”

The Wood Pile’s shop, on Renny’s Lane, is open to the public 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm on Fridays and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. For more information, visit thewoodpile.org