ONE of Basingstoke's oldest buildings was given some protection against damp weather thanks to a team of hardy insurance workers.

Colleagues from disability insurer Unum, based at Basing View, rolled up their sleeves to give the Sir James Deane Almshouses in London Street a coating of limewash.

The work was organised through the Basingstoke Employees in the Community Network, which aims to match voluntary organisations needing help with businesses.

Group customer relations team manager Louise Cauchie, who led a squad of 10 energetic colleagues, said: "We were given a list of different volunteering projects and we picked the early 15th century almshouses project, because it was local and appealed to the whole team.

"The almshouses didn't seem that big when we originally went to have a look, but when we had our paintbrushes in hand, they seemed to grow."

Miss Cauchie and her colleagues felt as though they had done something very worthwhile and had put something back into the community.

The almshouses are administered by the trustees of Basingstoke Charities, whose chairman Criss Connor said: "The staff from Unum did a superb job - we very much appreciated their help.

"Obviously we had to pay for the materials, but we didn't have to pay for professional labour charges, which is good for us, because we are running as a charity."

Explaining the purpose of the limewash, which is a traditional kind of paint, Mr Connor said: "As there is no damp course in the building, we have no means of stopping the damp getting in through the walls, and we have to therefore make sure that the damp that does comes through can come out, and limewash is the only thing that will allow that."

The Basingstoke Employees in the Community Network is organised through Basingstoke Voluntary Services (BVS), which is based in White Hart Lane, behind the Civic Offices. The scheme was launched last year.

To find out more about the network, contact Vivien Harrison, employee volunteering project co-ordinator at Basingstoke Voluntary Services, on 01256 423833 or e-mail vivien.harrison @voluntaryservices.com