A COUNCIL has thanked its tourist information centre and guided walk volunteers with a day of activities.

Following a visit to the Georgian Theatre Royal and Richmond Castle, the contingent of 50 from Richmondshire District Council went on the Wensleydale Railway, stopping at the Teapottery and Little Chocolate Shop, in Leyburn.

The council has 11 volunteers giving guided tours.

Tourist information centre manager Norman Mahaffy said: "We also have 26 volunteers helping at the Leyburn and Richmond tourist information centres. They staff the counter, deal with visitor queries and generally provide an invaluable service.

"The majority of our volunteers are local and very knowledgeable. They pass this knowledge and enthusiasm on to visitors."

A ceremony was held at Swale House, Richmond, where a cheque for £684, raised by the volunteer guides, was presented to the Richmondshire and Georgian Theatre Royal museums.

"It is not often tourist information staff and volunteers from Leyburn and Richmond are able to get together in one place," said Mr Mahaffy.

"We use this rare opportunity not only to say thank you to the volunteers, but also for training purposes."