OKEHAMPTON'S Tourist Information Centre is to be run by volunteers and continue to provide visitors with information about the area in its new home – the Museum of Dartmoor Life.

Following West Devon Borough Council's decision last April to cease funding the tourist information centres in Okehampton and Tavistock, the museum has stepped in to ensure that visitors to Okehampton will continue to have access to information about attractions, things to do and accommodation.

The museum's reception and shop is being refurbished and will stock leaflets about local attractions, maps, guidebooks and locally made souvenirs and crafts.

Now more volunteers are needed to welcome visitors and deal with their enquiries.

The borough council axed its financial support for the centres last year in order to plug a £728,00 hole in the council's 2013/14 budget. Removing the tourist information centre funding will save the council around £50,000 a year.

Museum manager Andrew Thompson said: 'Tourism is a vital part of the local economy.

'The museum's trustees recognise that if West Devon and northern Dartmoor is to compete for visitors with other areas it is essential that a tourism information service is retained.

'Taking over tourism information is an exciting new phase in the museum's development.

'The Museum of Dartmoor Life is unique in its coverage of Dartmoor and West Devon's social history and contemporary life so locating tourism information inside the building makes really good sense.

'The museum is developing a reputation as a fun and friendly place to volunteer.

'We have a variety of volunteer vacancies for people with a wide range of skills and interests and additional training will be provided.'

The museum is looking for knowledgeable and friendly people from across West Devon to welcome visitors.

Additional volunteers are also needed to help with gardening, maintenance, events and documenting and conserving the collection.

On Tuesday, March 18 the museum will be holding a volunteer recruitment day with briefing sessions at 11am and 2pm for prospective volunteers.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Andrew Thompson by e-mail on [email protected]">[email protected] or phone 01837 52295.