VOLUNTEERS at Help the Aged in Rawtenstall are preparing to celebrate a decade of providing a treasured charity service for the town.

The Bank Street shop's manager Debbie Clayton will officially start the 10th birthday party celebrations on Tuesday by cutting the cake and sharing it with customers and staff.

The event will be extra special for Amy Lord, who has spent ten years as a volunteer with Help the Aged and to Margaret Hayhurst, who has been with the charity for more than five years.

In recognition of their contribution they will be presented with framed certificates on behalf of the charity at 10.30am on the day.

Amy and Margaret are part of a nine-strong team of volunteers who have notched up an amazing 11,340 voluntary hours between them which has been the driving force behind the continuing success of the shop.

Shop manager Debbie Clayton said: "It is 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 and more rich.