A HOSPICE is making an urgent appeal for volunteers to come forward and help with its vital work.

Willow Burn Hospice, based at the former Maiden Law Hospital, in Lanchester, County Durham, says it has vacancies for administrative managers, warehouse operatives and collection box agents.

Chief executive Helen Mills said: "Over the years, Willow Burn has received comparatively small sums of government funding to deliver our services but we have survived on the goodwill of voluntary support, local community fundraising activities and the leadership of our Board of Trustees.

"While every charity depends on the money it is able to raise through the generosity of others and fundraising activities, we wouldn’t be able to provide the care and palliative support services we do without the army of volunteers we’ve always been lucky to have working with us throughout the community."

Current volunteers range in age from 17 to 89, and include students, jobseekers, single parents, professionals and retired people.

Anyone interested in joining Willow Burn’s volunteers or finding out more information should contact Laura Elliot, Volunteer Services Manager on 01207 529224.