THE elevated position of mayor and mayoress did not stop Eric Jackson and Brenda Forster from getting their hands dirty for charity.

The dignitaries assisted behind the counter, stocked shelves and priced goods at the British Heart Foundation charity shop in Redcar, as part of a new volunteer recruitment campaign.

"It's great that the mayor and mayoress of Redcar and Cleveland can help us out," said a spokesman for the charity.

"Our shops and their 6,000 volunteers across the country raised £8m last year towards the fight against heart disease, but we really need all the help we can get."

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call in at the shop, at 76, High Street, Redcar.