FOUNDER members of a mental health charity in Darlington have been rewarded for their 21 years of service.

Volunteers Ken Parsons and Joan Butler helped to set up the Darlington branch of Mind in 1979.

To mark the occasion, a birdbath with a plaque dedicated to them was unveiled in the garden of the charity's premises at St Hilda's House, Borough Road.

Local Mind chairman Peter Freitag made the presentation during a fun day for service volunteers.

Project officer Julia Corner said the outgoing committee decided to make the presentation just before this year's annual meeting.

She said: "They are volunteers who helped set up Darlington Mind and have been committed, enthusiastic and keen individuals and they still are. We wanted to give them a token of our appreciation."

Darlington Mind has a book marking 20 years of the service, available from St Hilda's House