DEDICATED volunteers who give up their spare time to run the tea bar at Winchester Prison took a well deserved break recently (June 26) as they met for a social evening.

The volunteers had a chance to get together at Milner Hall in Winchester for a wine and canape evening.

There are 40 to 50 regular volunteers who give up their free time to provide tea and coffee for prisoners and their visitors at Winchester prison.

Profits from the tea bar are donated to the Hampton Trust, which supports prisoners when they leave jail and last Thursday, the year's takings were handed over to a representative from the charity.

Sue Walker, chairwoman of the trust, was pleased to receive £6,500 from the volunteers and gave a talk on how the money would be spent. The volunteers also gave £500 of the money they raised to the prison's seminar service.

The tea bar is open seven afternoons a week throughout the year and volunteers come from Winchester and as far as Christchurch.

Jane Chegwin-Price, a part-time nurse from Oram's Arbour, is one of the volunteers and said that it was a good way to give something back.

She said: "I could volunteer for other charities but because I've nursed for years and I've seen the problems with crime, alcohol and drugs I decided to volunteer at the tea bar at the prison. It's good fun and it's not intimidating at all. I've seen first hand how devastating it can be for people to be in prison."

The group is always looking for new volunteers and if you are able to help out even just one afternoon a month or go on the list as a reserve to cover holidays or illness telephone Elizabeth May on 01962 776287.