EVERY day an army of women arrive at Preston Prison to do their good turn for the week.

For them it's a chance to get out - meet folk, have a chat and keep busy.

It's not a job, they don't get paid for it but the services they offer is as crucial to keeping the volatile population at bay, as are the bars on the doors.

So what exactly do these diligent volunteers get up to?

Tea, you can't run a prison without a good cuppa tea, and that's where the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) comes in.

They provide the women-power to keep prison visitors watered and fed so that they turn up to meet their loved ones, smiling and feeling refreshed.

Anna Penfold of Waterloo Terrace in Ashton, worked in the creche in the prison visitors' centre for 20 years before it closed down. She then took a job in the tea bar and hasn't looked back since - although she still keeps a special eye out for the little ones to make sure they are not getting into trouble!

She said: "I never expected to find myself in a prison!"

And her colleagues agreed.

Lilian McAulay from Blackburn, said: "At first I thought it was a bit daunting. I had never been in a prison.

"It was a bit of a relief when I was going out but I enjoyed the work and everyone was very friendly."

Lilian, a retired winder, said: "It's good to be doing something for the community instead of being stuck at home feeling miserable.

"It tends to put your problems into perspective as well," she added: "You realise there is always someone worse off than yourself."

The prison tea bar is organised by Jackie Munden, the family services manager for the WRVS who is also a volunteer.

And since a tea bar was introduced at the Magistrates Courts: "Violence has fallen by 40 per cent," she said

The WRVS needs volunteers - call (01772) 655020 if you can help them out.

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