AN UNUSUAL hobby is at the centre of a gathering in Coleraine every Thursday, as the Anglican Church Hall plays host to up to as many as 10 people at the same time bringing old chairs back to life through the science - and art - of upholstery.

Informally known as ‘Hammer and Tack’, one member of the group, Helen Christie, has been part of them for about 12 years and said it all “started in the 80s” with an upholsterer who would come across on occasion from Mount Gambier to explain the craft, and the group “just continued on”, with the help of Coleraine local, Maisie Mitchell - “an amazing lady (who) died only a few years ago”.