THE SALVATION army are appealing for volunteers to help them over the Christmas period.

The Christian charity’s branches in Bishop Auckland, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees are launching a new drive to find extra volunteers to help it cope with its busiest time of year.

The campaign, called Could you be a Sally Army helper? aims to recruit volunteer workers to help them over November and December.

Anthony Cummings, area manager, said: “There’s no time like Christmas to help out at a Salvation Army shop. It’s one of the best times of year, but also one of the busiest. That’s why we’re appealing for a band of Sally Army Helpers who can donate as much time as they can to our Bishop Auckland, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees shops during the festive period.

“Volunteers often don’t realise how valuable they are; a couple of hours or even a few days a week make a huge difference to us.”

The work includes sorting through donations, creating window displays, steaming and hanging clothes, assisting customers and generally helping spread Christmas cheer. Qualities looked for include knowledge of Christmas carols and the ability to remain jolly under pressure.

To become a volunteer, phone 01388 603540 (Bishop Auckland); 01642 492254 (Redcar); or 01642 617629 (Stockton).