THE local branch of the Samaritans has made a plea for new volunteers in the wake of an alarming rise in the number of suicides.

Resources are stretched to the limit and the Lancaster branch has been forced to close its doors for the first time since 1972.

The telephone lines are still open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, but there will be no personal access for the foreseeable future.

"As modern life becomes increasingly stressful and the suicide rate, especially amongst young men, rises alarmingly, the need for the Samaritans has never been greater. But without volunteers the local branch cannot provide what it has done for the last 25 years - someone to listen when there's no one else," said a volunteer.

"We can't offer practical solutions or advice, but we can listen when there is no one else. And sometimes that helps."

The Lancaster, Morecambe and District Branch in Sun Street covers an area ranging from Carlisle in the north to Preston in the south.

"All branches are run exclusively by volunteers, ordinary people from all walks of life. All they have in common is the ability to listen and a few hours that they can commit each week to the Samaritans."

Volunteers are desperately needed to help answer the branch's 20,000 calls a year and to join the Friends of the Samaritans, the group responsible for raising the vital funds needed to keep the branch running.

Volunteers are given 15 hours of classes spread over a few weeks before starting duties at the centre and two open evenings have been organised at Morecambe Town Hall on November 27 and Trinity Community Centre, Middle Street, Lancaster, on December 2, starting at 7.30pm.

For more details call Lancaster 61666.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.