RAWTENSTALL'S Help the Aged celebrated a decade in business.

The Bank Street shop manager Debbie Clayton beganm the 10th birthday party yesterday by cutting the cake and sharing it with customers and staff.

The event was extra special for long-serving volunteers Amy Lord, who has spent ten years with Help the Aged and Margaret Hayhurst, who has been with the charity for more than five years.

In recognition of their contribution they were presented with framed certificates.

Amy and Margaret are part of a nine-strong team of volunteers who have notched up an amazing 11,340 voluntary hours between them.

Shop manager Debbie Clayton said: "It was a very special occasion for us all and I would like to thank our customers and especially our volunteers for their continued support over the past ten years.

"Volunteers' work is essential for the efficient running of the shop and without people like Amy and Margaret we would struggle to keep operating smoothly."

Funds raised by all the Help the Aged shops throughout the country go towards helping to make elderly people's quality of life better.