A CHARITY has issued a plea for people to lend an ‘elfing’ hand this Christmas.

The British Heart Foundation says the festive season is a particularly busy time in its shops – including the outlet in Keighley’s Airedale Shopping Centre – and it is appealing for volunteers to help out.

Linda Fenn, for the charity, said: “Volunteering over the Christmas period is a fantastic way to give back to your local community and be part of a great team.

“You’ll also be helping us to raise vital funds for research into beating heart and circulatory diseases, including heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia.

“Each year heart and circulatory diseases kill around 15,000 people in Yorkshire and the Humber and currently 670,000 people in the region are living with the conditions. It’s essential that we continue to accelerate research into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat them.

“Without the generosity of our shop volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to fund much of this life-saving work.”

Volunteers can give whatever time they feel able to and there is a range of roles available, from sorting and pricing donated goods to serving customers.

For further information, visit bhf.org.uk/lend-an-elfing-hand.