HEALTH bosses have recognised the efforts of volunteers who play a vital role at their local hospital.

Members of the Friends of the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, have been presented with long service awards by the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust after giving more than ten years of service.

Trust chairwoman Glenys Marriot presented each with a badge and certificate in recognition of their achievement. There were refreshments afterwards to celebrate.

Ms Marriot said: "We wanted to say thank you to the dedicated volunteers, some of whom have being helping out on a regular basis for as long as 40 years - a staggering 1,800 years in total - which is a truly fantastic achievement.

"They have played a significant part in the Friarage's history and are an important and much-appreciated part of the hospital team."

The Friends of the Friarage have tirelessly helped staff and patients over the years and their successful fundraising helps and supports the wards and departments at the hospital.

Originally known as the League of Friends, but now called the Friends of the Friarage Hospital, the organisation was formed in 1957.

The organisation was formed to "mobilise, encourage, foster and maintain the interest of the public in the patients and staff and support the work of the Friarage Hospital by means of voluntary assistance outside the means provided by the Department of Health".

More than four decades later, the Friends are continuing their work.

Some of their recent fund-raising efforts include providing £700,000 to rebuild the children's unit and £150,000 to provide equipment for an endoscopy unit, both part of the redevelopment of the Friarage Hospital.

They also paid for £62,000-worth of equipment to help the hospital and community during the past year.

The long service award winners were:

Ten years - Denise Passman, Dorothy Sheppard, Avril Douglas, Kath Marlee, Norena Backhouse, Christine Brayshaw, Winifred Dinsdale, Kathryn Fewz, June Gill, Joyce Holmes, Anne Jardine, Lawrence Jardine, Wendy Juden, Joan Leyland, Chris Loughlin, Rose McKibbin, Edna Nicholson, Elsie Parrish, Nancy Peacock, Roberta Sunley, Ruth Sunley, Gillian Swift, Barbara Sygmuta, Carol Turner, Janice Wake, Janet Watson, Margaret Weatherill, Dorothy Wright, Helen Brudenell, Sheila Hopps, Beatrice Morley, Margaret Carling.

Fifteen years - Brian Thompson, Ian Sykes, Shirley Donaldson, Sylvia Gadsby, Christine Smith, Lol Bailey, Sue Baker, Freda Hebdon, Mary McLouglin, Marian Norwood, Angela Simms, Eileen Breckon, Nancy Hutchinson, Violet Kilding.

Twenty years - Sheila Bowe, Enid Banks, Dorothy Capps, Winifred Earl, Jean Jamieson, Valerie Todd, Anne Bowes.

Twenty-five years - Agnes Kitchen, Kathleen Milner, Rita Moon, Joan Ramsay.

Thirty years - Ann Parlour, Mary Tarran, Harry Tarran, Kathleen Broadley, Pamela Granger, Audrey Pygott, Jack Pygott.

Forty years - Mildred Rand, Kathryn Thompson.