VOLUNTEERS are choosing a colourful way to make people aware of their work.

This is the UN international year of volunteers and the Northallerton and Bedale volunteer bureaux are promoting the orange and blue ribbon to symbolise the part members play in society.

About 20m people volunteer each year in the UK. Last year the Northallerton and Bedale bureaux undertook almost 3,000 transporting, shopping, escorting and other jobs.

The bureaux hope the ribbon will arouse public interest and encourage more people to become volunteers.

A spokesman for Northallerton voluntary service association said: "This work is largely unrecognised. Imagine how much more the work of volunteers would be recognised if every volunteer wore an orange and blue ribbon.

"Over the last ten years, ribbons have come to symbolise many causes. Orange and blue recognises all volunteers, regardless of the causes or issues they care about."