THE Mersey Gateway project is looking for new volunteers to work in its visitor centres as the crossing reaches its final phases.

Bridge builder Merseylink has trained 50 volunteers and is now looking for more enthusiastic people keen to tell the story of the bridge and Halton’s history.

A volunteer information event is being held on Thursday, March 30.

Hugh O’Connor, general Manager of Merseylink said volunteers are a key part of the project.

“These great people work within the project’s visitor centres to explain how the bridge is being built,” he said.

“Some of the volunteers go further, delivering talks, presentations and temporary exhibitions in community venues, schools and colleges.

"Our volunteers are special people who selflessly give up their time to share their knowledge of this fascinating engineering project with visitors and the people of Halton.

“They are making an enormously valuable contribution, not just to the project, but to the community.”

Volunteer Evelyn Edwards works at the visitor centre at the Catalyst Museum in Widnes.

She said: “My role involves explaining different aspects of the project and taking them up to the viewing gallery where they can see the construction in the river.

“I’ve also started to get involved in the school presentations and Lego sessions which the children absolutely love.

“I was a little bit nervous about doing these but being a volunteer has given me new-found confidence.

“I wanted to be involved in something that would go down in history as a big project for the region and I’ve made a lot of great friends too.”

The volunteer programme consists of a four-week training course where people can learn a range of presentation skills and customer service. They also find out about the ecology, environment and the local history and heritage of the project.

To register to attend the information event on March 30 please e-mail volunteers@merseylink.com.