THE organisers of an exhibition celebrating the work of volunteers hope it will inspire others to serve the community.

Durham Volunteer Bureau and Durham University's Student Community Action are holding the exhibition, Volunteering Past Present Future, in Durham Cathedral, from Monday.

They hope the event, held to mark International Year of the Volunteer, will give a manpower boost to charities and organisations which rely on volunteers.

The bureau's volunteer coordinator, Elaine Batchelor, said: "The exhibition coincides with Lent, which is about giving up something.

"Volunteering is about giving up your time, and we are hoping that with that message we may get more people to come forward to do voluntary work.''

There are 104 organisations registered with the bureau.

Student Community Action has 800 volunteers, who do a wide range of work with people of all ages.

Ms Batchelor said: "It is the 19 to 25 age group that volunteers more than any other, with the 50s to 65 in the next category.

"People in their 30s to 50s are busy trying to get on with life, working and bringing up a family."

The exhibition will be held in the cathedral's Galilee Chapel, until Sunday, April 1, and will be open daily from 9.30am to 5pm.

For information on being a volunteer, call the bureau on 0191-383 1944.