The national office of a worldwide charity marked National Volunteers Week by opening its newly extended property.

The number of volunteers using the Silsden office of L'Arche has increased to 20, forcing the charity to expand into the neighbouring premises this week.

Up to 20 volunteers now regularly use the office in Briggate. Volunteers at the office, which has been in Silsden since 1991, handle all the e-mail enquiries and responses and co-ordinate all the charity's marketing, fundraising, PR, financial and legal requirements in the UK.

Adjacent empty premises, which were previously a shop, were renovated and knocked through following 18 months of fundraising.

The new extended offices were opened on Monday by Jenny Thornton. She is one of 140 adults with learning disabilities who are part of eight residential L'Arche communities in the country.

John Peet, general and company secretary, said: "We now welcome nearly 20 volunteers to this office to help with mailings and other vital tasks, and we had to expand as we simply ran out of space for the number of bodies coming here.

"The offices are still compact for a national charity, but a great improvement nonetheless."

Office manager Judith Ellis said: "We couldn't achieve all we do without the volunteers, so we are delighted that we now have more improved space for everyone to work."

Bob Jowett, who has been a volunteer since he retired, said the work was rewarding.

"I am amazed at the amount of activity in this office and the friendliness of everyone. If you have a few hours to spare, volunteering can be really rewarding," he said.