A couple who have benefited from the good work done by Strood Community Project are saving the shop.

An announcement was made in May that the High Street-based charity, which included a food bank and offered training skills and advice on welfare and benefits, had gone into liquidation.

The future of the shop, which fundraised for the project, was hanging in the balance as administrators looked to find a way to keep it open.

But parents Steve and Bebe Long came to the rescue to save the store which has helped the family over the last few years.

The father-of-three said: “We only took over on Friday in a last-ditch attempt to save it and it was successful.

“The head office for the project wasn’t making enough in grant funding to be sustainable but the shop was in good health. Not perfect but it wasn’t doing badly.

“It was making a surplus but not enough. We’ve had a lot of help from people about how to reduce cost in the future.

“My wife is one of the beneficiaries of the project and shop. She suffered with mental health issues and working at the shop gave her the confidence and the social contact to help get her better.

“There is another lady who works there and it’s her only contact during the week. She would be completely socially isolated without the shop. It made me passionate about trying to save it.” Steve and Bebe, who live on Marley Way, Rochester, are now working with a group of people including stakeholders and councillors.

Steve continued: “We want it to benefit the community and will be asking what people want out of the project at a later date.”

Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple, who is part of the group helping reopen the store, said: “It’s fantastic to see this great community resource saved at the 11th hour.

“It will now need the community to rally around to make sure it stays at the heart of Strood.

“I will do all I can to support Steve and Bebe and encourage everyone in the Strood area to support the shop in any way they can.”