TWO women have retired from the Women's Royal Volunteer Service after clocking up more than 50 years' service between them.

Eden Maughan, of Chester-le-Street, is a volunteer with 40 years' experience and Joyce Heel, of Birtley, has been with the organisation for more than a decade.

They are friendly faces to patients and staff at the Community Hospital Chester-le-Street tea bar, but have recently stood down.

Margaret Bell, WRVS project manager of the tea bar, said: "Theirs was an invaluable contribution.

"We offer tea, coffee and sympathy. As it is an outpatients' department some people would come in very worried so we would give them a cup of tea and have a chat.

"The patients get to know you and it is nice for them to see a friendly face when they come back again."

Mrs Bell is now looking for more volunteers to help and spend a morning or afternoon every week covering a shift. Anyone interested should leave their name and telephone number at the hospital tea bar.