Much-loved old furniture is being given a new lease of life by former plumber Paul Sunderland.

He is renovating furniture people have had in their family for generations.

He believes items people have an emotional attachment to can still be used after a little bit of tender loving care.

Paul, 44, from Oakworth, set up Shabby Elephant after rethinking his life having spent 15 years as a plumber.

He said: “I’ve always been reasonably handy so I started renovating furniture at home, then went from there.

“Rather than paying £300 for a new table and chairs, clients bring old stuff to me to revamp. It’s very satisfying when you get pieces in that are absolutely ruined, but there’s an emotional value to it and you get them back to their former state.

“All you sometimes need is a bit of glue, varnish and sandpaper and a lot of TLC, and it’s got another 100 years.”

Paul also tours auction houses looking for old pieces that he thinks his clients might like, or have said they are looking for.

He said: “Basically, I’m a treasure hunter! Hopefully, next year I’ll be starting workshops where people can bring their furniture and we’ll work on them as a group.”

Shabby Elephant is based on the Newbridge Industrial Estate, over the River Worth off Pitt Street in Parkwood.