By John Connell

Last updated at 14:37, Friday, 24 February 2012

Volunteers are needed to keep Brampton’s Tourist Information Centre open all year round.

The centre, in the Moot Hall, is open from March until the end of October. But Brampton Parish Council wants to keep it open longer to promote the town and cope with growing visitors numbers.

Vice-chairman Geoff Prest said: “We want it to be open for longer because we are getting more visitors in Brampton because it is such a wonderful place.”

He added that the volunteers would help point visitors to places of interest, including Hadrian’s Wall, Talkin Tarn, Gelt Woods and Lanercost Priory.

A total of 30 volunteers would be needed to work alongside Carlisle City Council staff.

But Mr Prest said that if the number of volunteers exceeded the target, people offering help would not be turned away.

“The more volunteers we have, the less commitment we need,” he added.

People wouldn’t need to work for more than two hours a fortnight.

The information centre receives £12,000 a year from the city council plus a grant from the parish council.

But Mr Prest said: “I’m hoping that we won’t need an awful lot of funding [once the volunteers are in place].

“Initially we are looking for the city council to help us out until we get it up an running.”

Volunteers and members of the parish council met representatives from Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd on Tuesday.

To become a volunteer call Mr Prest on 016977 41319 or the parish council on 016977 3382.

First published at 14:08, Friday, 24 February 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk