A grade-ii listed building which was almost demolished has been fully restored into new offices spaces on Thursday.

Thrift Cottage, in Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey had been left abandoned of over 20 years before construction company, IMS, saved the timber-framed dwelling.

Town Mayor and Cllr Jeane Lea, Towie star Chloe Meadows and members from Waltham Abbey Historical Society was in attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Chris Sumner, chairman of the Historical Society, said the club has been campagining to save the building for several years.

He said: "I believe Thrift Cottage was saved just in time.

“There had been practically no foundations and the upright timbers had deteriorated considerably.

“The building has been saved and will be put into use which will hopefully ensure it continues to exist and with some necessary compromises it has been returned to its original condition.”

Dating back to 1825, Thrift Cottage has been vacant and boarded up since 1997 since the prevoius owner left.

The original internal walls were made with “lath and plaster” which has now been replaced with wallboard and applied new wool insulation.

For more information on Thrift Cottage, visit https://historicengland.org.uk