Staff at Barclays Bank in Croydon swapped their suits for decorating clothes and picked up their paintbrushes to help give the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Thornton Heath a new look.

The team, along with volunteers from the Home Office, cleaned and painted the rundown CAB office in Thornton Heath as part of Barclays' community investment programme.

Transforming the CAB is not the first project staff at Barclays have volunteered to give their time to help the community, they have also been involved with work at Farthing Downs in Coulsdon.

Volunteers Vicky Hersey and Cheryl D'Souza said it was good to give something back.

Vicky, 29, events organiser, said: "It was quite fun doing it really, it makes a complete change from office routine and it's really good for morale.

"It was really fulfilling to see it finished especially knowing that we started it from scratch. It made so much difference.."

Cheryl said: "I chose to get involved with this scheme so that I could put something back into the community. It's important for larger companies like ourselves to lend a hand to the community when they can. It's a very fulfilling experience."

Susan Cottan, relationship manager, said: "At Barclays we are committed to communities and we are delighted to support this organisation.

"This is a lovely example of Barclays staff working closely with the local community to achieve something which we hope will make a real and lasting difference."

Tony Riddeck, director of Croydon CAB service, said: "The teams from Barclays and the Home Office have transformed the drab and depressing areas used by our clients.

"This sort of help is invaluable to a charity like the CAB when our fundraising is focused on our front-line service leaving no funds for makeovers like this."