The Paignton headquarters has been completely refurbished

The local brigade faced having to close the building in Paignton when it was discovered it needed about �100,000-worth of remedial work.

The legacy of �130,000 has come from a former volunteer's estate.

The money has allowed for a complete refurbishment of Mountbatten House in Totnes Road far beyond what had originally been envisioned.

'Go to town'

Two years ago, it was found the headquarters had dry rot throughout the ground floor.

The cost of putting it right was estimated at �95,000 which was far more than the local division had in its coffers.

Arrangements were being made to try to loan the necessary funds until news of the legacy came through.

Henry Goodman, who died 15 years ago, had left instructions that the money should be passed to the charity after his wife's passing. She died in January.

Division spokesman Ted Woolvett said the first plan was to borrow just enough money needed to do the minimum work required.

He said: "But just before that last agreement was signed to carry on with this work, we found out that this legacy had been left to us.

"So, we thought about this and decided that because we had this money, plus other finances that we had saved up, we thought we could really go to town."