A COUNCIL chairman is counting on slave labour to boost his 12-month charity appeal.

Eight volunteers are offering their services at a slave auction being held in Crook on Saturday night to raise money for the town's parent and carers group, which supports families of children with disabilities.

Wear Valley District Council chairman Eddie Murphy is raising money for the group during his year in office and has already collected several thousand pounds.

On Saturday, customers at the Royal Sun pub can bid in an "anything goes" sale, which starts at 7pm. Landlord Ian Bell is the auctioneer.

One of the slaves, 23-year-old Dean Hamilton, expects to be asked to do anything from carrying shopping to gardening or decorating a house.

A brochure for the auction goes on sale for £1 in the pub on Friday lunchtime, when Crook licensees are also launching their first calendar with photographs taken by carers group member Susan Entwistle.

Group chairman Christine Berry, who makes up a fundraising team with Ms Entwistle and Tracey Paterson, said: "We are really pleased the boys are helping us. They are all aged between 18 and 26, which is not an age group that normally gets involved.

"They take an interest in the children, who love the interaction they have with them. They have become really close to the families."