Tireless charity workers are making round trips of more than 120 miles a day to keep a money-spinning shop open.

But the British Heart Foundation's Ilkley shop is finding it impossible to find volunteers from the town itself.

Lynn Groves has been driving four hours a day, commuting between her home in Lancashire and the charity shop in Brook Street.

Lynn - who lives in Leigh near Wigan - and fellow relief manager Beverley Lenihan, who travels more than 50 miles a day to and from her home in Huddersfield, stand in for regular manager Lynn Holt when she is on holiday.

Lynn Holt herself lives in Keighley and the shop's part-time assistant, Zoe Scherhag, also travels in from Huddersfield.

But despite the efforts of the charity's paid staff the shop - which has raised more than £50,000 since opening last August - has just one regular volunteer from the town itself, prompting an urgent appeal for more help.

Mrs Groves said: "It's quite a journey, especially when you're not used to travelling a lot.

"It takes me two hours each way and I got lost the first time I came but it's a lovely shop and Ilkley's beautiful so that makes all the travelling well worthwhile.''

Mrs Lenihan said: "We're desperate for volunteers and I can't understand why we can't get them in Ilkley.

"There must be some more local people out there who can spare an hour or two to help and it's them we're trying to bring out of the woodwork."

A spokesman for the British Heart Foundation said: "The shop's thriving but will only continue to do so if we can get some volunteers to help out there.''

l Would-be volunteers, who get a 25 per cent discount on purchases as well as free refreshments and may be eligible for travel expenses, should contact Lynn Holt on (01943) 605289.

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