MARRIAGE counsellors have issued an urgent appeal for volunteers and warned counselling sessions may have to be cancelled unless people come forward.

Relate is asking for people to volunteer as receptionists to work one or two evenings a month at its offices in Church Street, Blackburn.

Service manager Vicki Cuthbertson said: "We have a team of receptionists and for various reasons one or two have moved on.

"We're down to the minimum of people who help and we can't go on indefinitely like this.

"If we don't get someone we might have to cancel some counselling sessions.

"Obviously we don't want to do that.

"It's urgent and getting someone as soon as possible is vital."

The unpaid work involves acting as receptionist, normally between 6pm and 9.30pm, on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night.

Volunteers will not do any counselling but will support the counsellor as well as handling telephone calls and organising the diary.

"We will train people to do the work if needed," said Vicki.

"They don't need to be experienced in this sort of work but they do need to be someone who can respect the confidential nature of the work."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact volunteer co-ordinator Margaret Thornton on 01254 52827.