An urgent plea has gone out for new volunteers to step forward to help serve up cuppas to parched patients and help raise thousands of pounds for a Bradford hospital.

The Friends of St Luke's runs two successful tea bars at St Luke's Hospital in Little Horton Lane which between them have a turnover of £120,000 a year.

The profit from this - up to £35,000 a year - is ploughed back in to the hospital by the voluntary group to improve patient care and experience.

But despite the success of the cafes they face an uncertain future as the majority of the current volunteers are in their 80s and face having to give up due to ill health.

Now Friends of St Luke's treasurer Eileen Beaumont, 73, is appealing for new volunteers.

She travels from her home in Pickering, North Yorkshire, every Thursday to do a shift in the tea bar.

"We don't want to have to think about closing them but if we don't get any new volunteers if could happen," she said.

"Even if the tea bars didn't raise any money I don't know what the hospital would do without them. They are used by people using outpatients services, by people waiting for ambulances and those who are visiting people who are very sick."

Mrs Beaumont used to be voluntary services manager for Bradford Teaching Hospitals until she retired 12 years ago but has continued her connection with the hospital through her volunteer work.

"All the volunteers really enjoy the work," she said. "But some of the ladies are in their 80s - they don't want to give up but eventually they will have to. New volunteers will be coming to a friendly atmosphere that they will enjoy. They will make friends as we never allow volunteers to work alone.

"You do not need to have experience, you just need to like people."

Volunteers are asked to commit to one morning session (9am to 1pm) or one afternoon session (1pm to 4pm) a week, with no weekend working.

Anyone who can help out should contact Chris Heaton, voluntary services manager at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, on (01274) 364309.