VOLUNTEERS who have clocked up 281 years with a free advice service have been honoured.

Durham Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), next to Durham Clayport Library, Millennium Place, provides advice and advocacy on problems ranging from evictions to claims for unfair dismissal and disputes with social services.

At its annual meeting, 14 volunteers and five trustees were given certificates for more than five years' service.

The longest-serving volunteer is former Durham University deputy librar-ian Ella Wright, who has 37 years' service and received an MBE for her work.

Mrs Wright, who is in her eighties, was an advisor for about 25 years, but now does clerical work.

Bureau manager Colin Thompson praised those who give up their time to help others.

He said: "We offer a service to people who are sometimes distressed, emotional, angry, and we offer practical assistance and advice for complex problems. Our people take on bureaucracy.''

Durham's first Liberal Democrat Mayor, Councillor Ray Gibbon, received a certificate for volunteering for 16 years. "I get such happiness and satisfaction from it. There's a lovely atmosphere in there," he said.

The other certificate recipients were: Patrick Conway, trustees' chairman (21 years service), treasurer Alan Ribchester (25), trustees Michael Howarth, Joseph Knight and Michael Bennett (five); volunteers Madeleine Ashdown (six), Rashida Hankin (six), Sian Anderson (eight), June Robson (ten), Barbara Storey (11), John Hudson (12), Anne Holland (13), Brenda Gray (15), Janet Attfield (15), Kathie Corner (17), Elizabeth Fewster (25), Connie Stone (29).