BBC TV star Nick Knowles has issued a rallying cry to Peterborough tradesmen to help on a major charity project in the city.

Nick Knowles has been at the Spinney Centre in Hartwell Way, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough, as part of an ambitious project to rebuild the centre, which will be shown on BBC TV series DIY SOS.

The centre will be used by the Little Miracles group, which runs sessions for disabled children in Peterborough.

The old building at the site was demolished this week, but now the producers of the show, which will be shown as part of the TV channel’s Children In Need appeal later this year, need builders, carpenters and other tradesmen to come and help out at the project. Despite appeals on Twitter, volunteers are still needed for the show.

Mr Knowles said: “The Spinney Playcentre has been demolished this week, before DIY SOS come and rebuild it, starting on September 19.

“We are still looking for tradesmen to come and help.

“They can come for between one and seven days to help. We need shop fitters, carpenters, builders and astroturf suppliers.

“We are also looking for landscapers. We have Chris Bradshaw heading the landcaping team, and he is recognised as one of the best in the country. He has won gold medals at Chelsea.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for Peterborough landscapers to work with the top man in the country.”

The Spinney was shut as part of a raft of play centre closures announced in cost cutting measures by Peterborough City Council in their February budget.

There were eight centres, in locations across the city. Only The Spinney and the Thistle Drive centres are set to reopen.

Anyone interested in helping out on the project can contact DIY SOS on 0117 974 7988, email diysos@bbc.co.uk or via Twitter - @DIYSOS.

By Stephen Briggs, Source