FIVE York women who helped to raise more than £1 million in sales at two York charity shops have received a big thank-you from Help the Aged.

The fabulous five have given a total of 75 years' voluntary service to charity, working in Help the Aged's city centre shops in Bridge Street and Goodramgate.

Muriel Pierotti has worked in the Goodramgate shop for 15 years along with June Stephens and Dorothy Conway, who have both worked there for ten years. The trio have clocked up a total of more than 12,000 hours of voluntary work.

Over at Bridge Street, Eileen Piercy, who has given 15 years' service and Christine Linton, who has worked there for a decade, have contributed a total of 8,000 hours in unpaid work.

To thank the hard-working volunteers, Help the Aged sent York's Town Crier to the Bridge Street shop yesterday to present them all with certificates and mementoes.

Rosemary Webster, the charity's field operations manager, said: "These are five very special women."

She said: "They have all given a tremendous amount of time to help the charity raise money to fulfil its vision of working towards a future where older people are valued."

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, July 26, 2003