A COMMUNITY cafe opened its doors in the heart of the Railway Village over the weekend.

The Bakers Cafe, formerly the Baker's Arms pub, welcomed residents to a barbecue on Sunday for its grand opening.

Run as a social enterprise by the Mechanics Trust it will serve lunch and supper from Tuesday to Friday.

Project manager Hannah Parry said she hopes it will bring the area together.

"Just in one today we made so many connections with people and found volunteers to work in our allotment.

"Physical spaces are taken for granted for how important they are at building those types of connections.

"It's about making use of the building again for a social purpose."

Resident Roy Burrage, 54, said he would come for supper and for socialising because he doesn't drink or go to the pub.

"If you're lonely it gives you somewhere to come," he said, "I only live down the road but I don't like cooking."