VOLUNTEERS are getting their hands dirty and paying for the privilege, in a bid to help to conserve a North-East heritage site.

Durham is among a number of cathedrals hosting young people on a working holiday, carrying out conservation of the 900-year-old landmark.

Cathedral Camps is a national charity which invites teams of volunteers, aged between 17 and 29, to help to preserve cathedrals during the summer.

Under the direction of Durham dean and chapter's clerk of works and expert conservators, this year's group is helping to restore and clean monuments and plaques in the Chapel of Nine Altars.

They are also cleaning the Prior Castell clock, one of the cathedral's few surviving wooden relics from medieval times which were not burned for warmth by sanctuary seekers.

Project leader Jane Smith said others were involved in more mundane duties, but they performed their tasks with a smile, and a sense of pride, at helping to restore one of the country's architectural and heritage gems.

The volunteers, some tackling camp duties as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, are easily recognisable in distinctive red T-shirts.

For £50 for the week they are housed in digs at nearby Durham School, living together as a community, cooking and washing up, and also planning their own free time in the evening.

This year's camp runs until Wednesday.