A FAIR in Durham next month aims to attract more people to help the city's charities and organisations.

The Durham Volunteers Bureau, based in Millennium Place, holds the event in the Market Place on Friday, June 4, from 10am to 4pm, to mark National Volunteers Week.

Without the helpers, many charities and voluntary organisations - some involved in fields such as education, health and helping victims - would be unable to operate effectively.

The aim of the fair is to celebrate and promote volunteering and show people how they can make a difference.

About 30 local organisations will have stalls and provide information. They will include the North-East Prison After Care Society, which helps the families of inmates, the Waddington Street Centre, for people with mental problems, and the RSVP Deerness Valley Surgery Transport Scheme, which helps elderly patients get to and from appointments at local surgeries and clinics.

There will also be entertainment, including a ventriloquism show at 11am, belly dancing at 12.30pm, a magician's circus skills workshop at 1pm and jazz from 2pm.

There will be free face painting all day and story-time sessions by Clayport Library. At midday, Durham Mayor Mary Hawgood will present prizes to schoolchildren for their entries in the bureau's Being Helpful art competition.

Refreshments will be available from the town hall, to raise funds for the mayor's charity appeal in aid of St Cuthbert's Hospice.