CUPS of tea will be flowing regularly once more at Victoria Infirmary Northwich thanks to a little help from the Guardian.

Earlier this month, the tea bar at the Winnington hospital was in desperate need of volunteers to keep up its vital service, which provides more than just refreshments to the hundreds of patients who visit.

Trisha Wallace, manager of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) volunteers who run the tea bar and trolley service, said the daily service was close to closing because of a lack of helpers and appealed to our readers to support the service.

She told the Guardian: "We're getting to the stage where we are going to have to start closing down on certain days which is such a shame.

"At the minute I'm struggling and I could do with some people to help me out."

And the response has been overwhelming.

Trisha said: "We now have enough new volunteers to ensure that we can continue, once they become members, to provide the full service that we feel we need and want to give to the patients and staff at the hospital.

"On behalf of all the ladies of the tea bar, thank you for your help and I would like to express my appreciation to all those people who rang me with offers of help."

The WRVS team carries out invaluable work at the infirmary including raising £21,000 to refurbish the day room and inpatient unit.