Teenagers can have fun fixing up bikes at a new workshop in Renfrew now old public toilets have been transformed into a cyclist’s paradise.

Community organisation Kustom Kruizers took over the former loo block in Robertson Park following a successful community asset transfer from Renfrewshire Council in 2019.

The project teaches young people aged 13 to 21, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, how to strip, build and restore bikes which, once in a good condition, are then sold on.

After two years of hard work since securing the transfer, the group has finally opened the doors of its workshop, where youngsters can learn a range of mechanical skills and gain qualifications.

School pupils will also be able to gain work experience at a takeaway coffee bar which offers hot and cold drinks alongside home-baked treats.

Dave Neill, founder of Kustom Kruizers, said he is excited to finally have the building open after a difficult period grappling with coronavirus restrictions.

“We were pretty much ready to get started with the building work just before Covid came and then we had to shut down,” he added.

“It was frustrating but I’d much rather have opened it now than opened it before Covid and then had to close.

“We still managed to do plenty out in the community in the meantime, servicing bikes and supplying bikes to people who had to get rid of their cars during lockdown.

“It is so exciting but also surreal to finally have the workshop open. It’s turned out 100 times better than we expected. We didn’t realise how big the space would be until everything had been taken out.”

“It just looks superb.”

The building work was completed by Glasgow architects Solid Matter Projects.

Kustom Kruizers is one of many projects to benefit from the council’s £1.5million Community Empowerment Fund, which supports groups with ideas to develop underused buildings.

As well as leasing the group its new base, the council awarded £25,000 to transform the building.

Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands was impressed with the new hub when he paid a visit.

He said: “The workshop looks amazing. It’s very hard to believe it is housed in the old public toilets.

“This has been a few years in the making.

“Myself and local councillor John Shaw have been supporters of the initiative since the start. I donated my far-too-infrequently used mountain bike a few years ago.

“Good luck to Dave and the team. For those not interested in bikes, they do an excellent coffee at their takeaway cafe too.”