A recruitment drive in Keighley as part of national Volunteer Week as been hailed a success.

Volunteer organiser Gary Pedley said several local people showed an interest in offering their time to help the community.

They could now provide unpaid work to support organisations in fields such as mental health and youth offending.

Keighley Volunteer Centre hosted the information session on Church Green with involvement from several other organisations.

Mr Pedley, the centre’s chief officer, said: “Quite a few people had a look at the literature and talked to members of staff, and expressed an interest in volunteering.

“Hopefully some of them will follow through and actually become volunteers.”

The centre, based at nearby North Street, helps recruit volunteers for a wide range of organisations across Bradford district.

It also helps find suitable volunteer work for Keighley people, by chatting with them about their interests and skills.

Mr Pedley said: “The day was not just about recruiting, it about celebrating the work that existing volunteers have done through the year.”

About 120 volunteers with the centre’s own projects – which include Carelink, a charity shop, befriending and the Handyman service – were given certificates of achievement and boxes of chocolates in recognition of their work.