Volunteers help favoured Earls Colne Indian restaurant

Earls Colne villagers united to help popular restaurant Riverside Spice.

All the helpers are regular customers at Riverside Spice and live nearby the restaurant.

They decided to team up to help do some gardening and other outside cleaning work for the establishment to give something back to them as they have suffered through the Covid pandemic.

The idea came about after it came up in conversation between the group members at a pub.

Paul Whight, one of the organisers of the action, lives almost opposite to Riverside Spice.

He said: “After the conversation about it came up at the pub, we all decided to help out, as we all love the restaurant and know how much it had struggled through the pandemic over the past two years.

“We thought we’d not tell them and surprise them with the help.”

The team helped to re-paint the walls, clean the sign, as well as tidy the car park from weeds, trim the greenery around the building and pressure wash the path.

Hedge Trimming - The restaurant were treated to new paint, as well as help in gardening and cleaning the outside

Paul said: “We did it whilst they were shut for Christmas, and didn’t tell them until it was done.

“I think they were extremely grateful and overwhelmed.

“It only took a morning for the nine or so of us who helped out.

“I think various communities need to think about local businesses that are struggling and do something similar.

“They should get together and help them in any way they can.”

Riverside Spice owner Abdul Hamid said: “We already know we are in a good village; everyone is friendly, and they always help out.

“To see on Monday morning on CCTV there were so many cars in car park it was strange, but then I found out they are cleaning it and it was so kind.

“They didn’t have to do it but they did anyway, and now I hope to prepare special meal for all of them sometime soon.”