TWO volunteers have notched up forty years of providing vital advice and help to the public through the Citizens Advice Bureau in areas of North Yorkshire which helped a record 10,000 people last year.

Rosalind Earl and Ted Darwin were handed special certificates at the annual general meeting of Hambleton, Richmondshire and Selby Citizens Advice.

Mr Darwin has been a volunteer adviser for over 20 years making him the longest serving member of Citizens Advice Richmondshire and he is still going strong, setting up the groups annual volunteers walk.

Ms Earl is a former Director and has been a Volunteer Trustee Board Member for over 17 years, helping to oversee the merger of Richmondshire CAB with Hambleton and Selby, and assisting in bringing in vital funding for the group.

The AGM was also attended by the Mayor of Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons, North Yorkshire County Councillor Helen Swiers presented the long service awards.

Carol Shreeve Chief Executive Officer of the group said: “I wanted to say a huge thank you to all our volunteers and staff who dealt with a record 10,000 issues from members of the public in the last year.”

Councillor Carl Les, Chair of the Trustee Board revealed there are plans to increase the size of the group to cover a wider area.