DIY SOS team to unveil transformed home in Shropshire

Everyone from local tradesmen and contractors, to members of the public simply along to lend a hand, have chipped in over the past week-and-a-bit to work on the home of Joe Grafton and his young daughter Lucy.

Today the pair will see what has been done to their country cottage in Hopesay, near Craven Arms.

The cottage had been sitting in a half-finished state after a string of misfortunes for the family meant the renovation of their dream home had stalled, leading Joe and Lucy to live in a caravan.

Speaking yesterday, Chris Frediani, a plasterer with the team from the popular BBC TV show, said: "Apparently Joe is nervous and excited and experiencing every emotion under the sun at the moment."

He said there was still a lot of work to be done as of yesterday afternoon, but it was all coming together.

"We have turned the corner and we're on the last 500 metre stretch to get there – but it will be right up to the 11th hour, as it always is," he said.

"It's 100 per cent positivity on this site, if it wasn't for the weather everybody would be singing and dancing.

"Everyone is here for their own personal reasons, some have have had something like what happened to Joe happen to them and they want to help. They're pushing themselves, they're not here for a jolly. Giving three or four days of their time will transform this family's life forever.

"And whatever their individual reasons for being here, everyone gets something out of it."

One of those helping on the final day was Eric Barker, a landscaper from Coventry. He had got involved through his friendship with Steve Bowers of The Garden Surgery in Shrewsbury, who is acting as landscaping project manager.

Mr Barker said: "I only started yesterday, I'm here to do the groundwork – preparing the ground for the topsoil and levelling out."

The big reveal was taking place this morning.