A YORKHIRE treasure which attracts visitors from around the world faces closure unless more volunteers can be found.

The Counting House museum, in Malton, houses information and displays about Charles Dickens, his life, family and colleagues, along with a collection of artefacts and pictures of the town.

Dickens was said to be a regular visitor to Malton where his best friend, Charles Smithson, worked as a solicitor at his office in Chancery Lane, which is now the museum.

It is said that Dickens was inspired to base Scrooge’s Counting House on Smithson’s office. When Smithson died aged 39, Dickens attended his funeral in the town and dedicated an early edition of A Christmas Carol to Mrs Smithson.

However, members of the Charles Dickens (Malton) Society said they were now faced with the prospect of having to close the Counting House museum, which opens on Saturdays, from April to September, for lack of assistants, and issued an urgent plea for volunteers.

Chairman Brian Oxberry said: “This Yorkshire treasure, established by the group some six years ago, has proved popular – with local residents and the increasing number of visitors to Malton, from across the UK and overseas, including a touring Japanese group which is visiting next month. All of our time – developing, maintaining and manning the museum, is given on a voluntary basis.

“The most frequent task is manning the Counting House – welcoming visitors and showing them around.” Mr Oxberry said they were a small group, most with family and other commitments placing demands on their time.

“We are faced with the awful prospect of not being able to open the museum every Saturday,” he said. “This will reduce the level of voluntary donations collected from visitors, which in turn will leave us unable to pay the rent and forced to close this valuable asset to the town.”

Mr Oxberry said manning the Counting House required no great skills, or expert knowledge of Dickens and his books. “All you need to do is welcome the visitors and show them the content of the two rooms – the displays are all self-explanatory,” he said. “It’s great fun meeting people from so many different places and some of our volunteers also go to the Market Place to distribute leaflets.

“We would love to hear from people willing to give an hour or more on one or two Saturdays a month – we’ll take time to show you the ropes. It’s a good opportunity to meet new people, and for students, a chance to get work experience.”

To find out more, visit the museum on a Saturday, or contact the Charles Dickens (Malton) Society via the website dickenssocietymalton.co.uk or phone the secretary, Linda McCarth, on 01653 698701.