MALTON'S newest shop manager is certainly devoted to her job - she used to work for free.

Francine Williams was a Barnardos volunteer at its Driffield charity shop, but when the opportunity to work in Ryedale came up, she leapt at the chance.

Francine, who was an administrative worker in her home town, said she couldn't turn down the career swap.

She said: "I was a volunteer for a few years and I enjoyed it so much I thought I would go for it.

"It's a lot harder work because obviously there is the responsibility with the job.

"When you're a volunteer you don't have that in the same way," she admitted.

The shop manager said she hoped to give the Barnardos shop in Finkle Street a boost over the coming months.

"The shop had been without a manager for some time," she said.

"The volunteers have kept it open two-and-a-half days a week which has been excellent, but now we are open six days a week."

And Francine made a plea for help to anyone with a few hours to spare.

"We are desperately short of volunteers, and would welcome help from anyone with all sorts of skills.

"I think some people are a bit apprehensive about going on the till, but there are lots of other things to do, like cleaning and sorting clothes."

Updated: 10:50 Wednesday, September 04, 2002