Olympian Naomi Riches was on hand at the Marlow Rowing Club this weekend to open a community café which will be run by students with disabilities.

The gold medallist officially opened the Scullers Community Interest Café on Saturday, January 23 which will be manned by young adults from the local area including students from Henley College.

The brains behind the cafe, Jacqui Napier Munn said the main goal is to provide work experience opportunities for young adults with learning difficulties and improve their employability.

A community interest company is a not for profit initiative funded by the council and local trusts which aim to serve the community as a whole.

On the grand opening, the café’s manager Carolyne Neighbour said: “It was fantastic. There were about 60-70 people there. Naomi was absolutely brilliant.

“We had some people with special needs come and she took them down to the boat house and showed them the boats.

“She was great with people it reminds us why we are doing it. We can get bogged down with the while project its great and she brought her medal along.”

Mrs Neighbour worked in the Frog Café in Henley on Thames– a similar initiative - however it was forced to close down last year after the site was bought by care home company B&M.

At first the Scullers café will be open on Wednesday to Sundays from 9am to 3pm with a view to eventually open it seven days a week.