A SERVICE which sees library books delivered to the elderly and infirm is in need of volunteers to keep running.

North Yorkshire County Council's Home Library and Information Service operates in conjunction with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) in Norton, Malton and Pickering. It will soon be expanded to Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley.

Volunteers choose or collect requests and go out in pairs every two weeks to deliver books, videos, tapes, CDs and DVDs to those who are unable to visit libraries themselves.

Two volunteers, both in their seventies, are stepping down in Norton and replacements are needed.

Janet Gavigan, community information officer at Norton Library, said: "The service is absolutely vital, not just for books, but for people to have contact and talk to someone.

"If people are truly house-bound it can be days before they see anyone because they don't get out."

Volunteers need to be a member of the WRVS, but membership can be arranged. More information is available from Mrs Gavigan on (01653) 696069.