CHARITIES in Preston and South Ribble are losing out on funds due to a lack of volunteers to help out in their shops selling clothes and furniture.

St Catherine's Hospice, which provides care and support for terminally ill people, has been forced to cut back deliveries and collections of furniture for its Walker Street shop in Preston.

Charity bosses have had to limit their collections of donated furniture to just two days a week, due to a lack of willing helpers.

"We are really struggling at the moment," said St Catherine's Hospice appeals manager, Maureen Nickson. "We have had to stop deliveries and collections of furniture two days a week because we need drivers and handlers.

"It is difficult to say how much it is costing us, but it is certainly restricting fund-raising because we cannot turn over the stock as quickly as usual."

But the hospice is not the only good cause to lose cash due to a lack of voluntary help from members of the public.

Charity bosses for Age Concern Preston and South Ribble say a lack of volunteers to work in their Plungington Road shop means donated clothes and other goods cannot be sorted and put up for sale quick enough.

"We are losing money because we cannot shift stock as fast and keep the shop looking the way we would like," said the shop's store manager Lesley Baldwin.

"It is only because the volunteers we do have are prepared to work extra hours that we have not had to shut earlier.

"But it can be fun and worthwhile to volunteer for a charity and if you are young it's something positive to put on your CV."

If you would like to volunteer with Age Concern Preston and South Ribble call 01772 258517 or for St Catherine's Hospice call 01772 313063.