TWO stalwart volunteers are to step down after providing tea and fundraising fun in Burley-in-Wharfedale for 37 years between them.

Margaret Wall and Lesley Atkinson are regular faces at Burley Community Council's coffee morning.

Mrs Wall of Prospect Road, has been a member of the volunteer team for almost 25 years.

And Mrs Atkinson, a former committee member of the council, has been in charge of the fundraising event for the last 12 years.

Mrs Wall said: "I am stepping down as I am getting a bit old now. I will be 85 soon."

The pensioner says she has thoroughly enjoyed her time as a volunteer.

She said: "I like seeing people and meeting them. It is very well attended. We are always kept busy."

Mrs Atkinson, of Wrexham Road, is hoping to spend more time with her grandchildren.

Mrs Atkinson said she will also miss being at the heart of the community.

She said: "The best thing about it is seeing the local people who come to the coffee morning.

"It is a social morning for some people. It is nice to see the people who live on their own chatting to friends and catching up on the gossip.

"The most important thing is seeing other people enjoying themselves. It is an essential part of village life."

Mrs Atkinson, 53, said she would recommend the post to anyone wishing to get more involved in village affairs.

She said: "It is not a

particularly difficult thing to do. It has just given me a lot of pleasure. It is a really good way to get to know everybody."

Tom Sumner, a committee member of the community council, said: "They are absolutely wonderful, salt of the earth. You need people like that in a village like ours."

The community council is now appealing for replacement volunteers to step forward, particularly somebody to take over the running of the event.

Anyone interested should contact Dennis Warwick, chairman of the

community council.