AN AWARD-winning volunteer group which helps to point tourists in the right direction is making a fresh appeal for help ahead of the summer season.

In their bright pink tabards, the Durham Pointers have been a familiar sight in the city centre for five years and the group now has more than 70 volunteers helping out wherever they can.

Set up following the closure of Durham’s tourist information office, the Durham Pointers, which picked up a Queen’s Award for voluntary services in 2015, help visitors find their way around the city’s landmarks.

Chairman Dave Carter said: “We’re not a replacement for the tourist information but we are there to help tourists, and local people and business people who come to Durham and want to find out where things are.”

He added: “We get very good feedback and people seem to be appreciative.

“We’ve had emails from all over the world and people thanking us from Australia.”

As well as meeting coaches when they arrive at The Sands, pointers also hand out maps and leaflets and give directions to help tourists find their way around the city.

The group is appealing for sponsors to help with its running costs of around £3,000 a year, which is used to produce the leaflets and provide volunteers with their tabards.

And with volunteers working daily between May and September, more people are always welcome to help keep the service going.

Mr Carter added: “There’s always scope to have more people. Some people do just two hours a fortnight, some do two hours a week and help out at the weekend as well: we fit in with what people want to do.

“It’s a very friendly atmosphere.”

To sponsor the group visit localgiving.org/durhampointers or to volunteer call 07582332621.