EMPLOYEES at a Newton Aycliffe factory have been rolling up their sleeves to help local charities and organisations.

They are taking part in the 3M 4Good programme, being run to mark the company's centenary this year.

The scheme offers employees the chance to do a day's voluntary work during company time.

Among the organisations supported has been the Timothy Hackworth Victorian and Railway Museum at Shildon, where 3M Aycliffe volunteers have spent three days working on part of the Stockton and Darlington railway.

Jock Downie from the museum said: "We're laying down new track for displaying wagons and the volunteers did a grand job in helping us out."

More Aycliffe volunteers have been tackling a range of projects from environmental works and repairing fences to classroom support at Woodham Technology College and helping out the RSPCA centre at Great Ayton.

Alan Kellett, organiser of the programme at 3M's Heighington Lane site, said: "3M has a longstanding commitment to supporting the local community and the programme has been an additional way for us to demonstrate this. We're delighted that we have been able to help."