KEMP Hospice is asking Wyre Forest people to give them a gift this Christmas - the gift of time.

The hospice is looking for 100 new volunteers to add to the 200 already on their files.Linda Averil, Val Beeston and Alan Ierston are waiting to hear from new volunteers.

Next year the hospice will be moving to much larger premises in the former Cedars Hotel in Mason Road.

The amount of crucial work helping Wyre Forest people cope with serious illness will grow and this has led to the 50 per cent increase in helpers needed.

Hospice marketing manager Alan Ierston said that due to new and exciting fund-raising projects a varied range of volunteer posts was emerging.

Mr Ierston said: "We are looking for some people with very specific skills and experience. For instance we need administrative support and we need volunteers with 'people skills' to call on clubs, pubs and community centres to explain about the hospice and put forward fund raising ideas."

Gardeners, and people prepared to help out in shops and on stalls at high profile events, are also required.

Because of the specialised nature of some of the skills needed Kemp has called on the services of Community Action Wyre Forest Volunteer Bureau to help with recruitment.

With the expert help of the bureau, a new leaflet explaining the posts as well as job descriptions for key posts have been drawn up.

As well as skilled volunteers, the hospice always needs caring people to help get patients to and from hospice day care in Kidderminster and Tenbury Wells.

Mr Ierston said: "As well as being personally very rewarding many people have found that working as a Kemp volunteer can help them to learn new skills and increase employment prospects."

Anybody who would like to find out more or obtain a leaflet can contact the hospice any weekday after 10.30am on Kidderminster 861217 or the Volunteer Bureau on Kidderminster 862757.