ONE of Swindon’s best loved cafes is in dire need of new volunteers.

The facility in Queen's Park would normally open from Thursday to Sunday but at the moment there are barely enough people available to open it at the weekends.

The park off Drove Road is a popular place for families to visit, with swans and other wildfowl, a secret garden and music events.

And the café, which is run by volunteers and opens from Easter to Halloween, is one of the highlights.

Last year it was open from Thursday through to Sunday. “This year we can scarcely make Saturday and Sunday,” said one of the team, Kate Colyer. “We are getting older and people have had to give up.”

The café serves hots and cold drinks, sandwiches and paninis as well as home-made cakes, ice creams and snacks.

“Bags of duck food can also be bought too,” said Kate. “The volunteers are unpaid of course, so all profit supports community activity in the park – music on Sundays, Easter and Halloween fun, the Christmas carol event.

“Funds also got towards things such as the benches John Jones has installed. The chief purpose of the community café is simply to make the park even more welcoming by offering refreshment.”

She said new recruits were essential if basic cover was to be maintained, but the café actually had the potential to open every day during the summer if there were enough volunteers.

“The people that use it regularly appreciate it. We have regulars and they are disappointed if we have to close for any reason,” she said.

Opening at weekends was acceptable in term time “but with the holidays approaching it seems a bit sad,” she added.

“It is quite a fun thing to do. I started doing it when I moved here as a way of getting to know the neighbours. It is a nice way to integrate,” she said.

“It is enjoyable work and would suit anyone who is friendly and reasonably fit,” added Kate.

The café, which currently has a five star hygiene rating, opens between 11am and 4pm and is run by a team of four. Anyone who wants to join them can call 01793 497165 or 07711039789 for information.

Future music events at the park include a performance by Pegasus Brass on July 17 and Uke Box Jury is making a return visit on August 21.