A DROITWICH councillor is urging more people to care for their community - saying volunteering is more vital than ever due to austerity.

Councillor Pam Davey, who represents the Droitwich East ward at Worcestershire County Council, says the 'Act Local' project could deliver huge benefits if enough residents get behind it.

As we revealed last week, more than 4,300 volunteers have been recruited to do things like staff libraries, maintain open spaces and drive community transport buses under the scheme, which encourages people to run services for the greater good.

Councillor Davey said: "This exercise is about helping people in the community deliver things which will no longer always be provided by the council, and at the same time encourage communities to come together and be more aware of each other.

"If we're going to get more volunteers, you've got to start with a strong community that actually cares about each other.

"That's how I see it, I know there are people out there who want to do things, we've got to make sure we give them the right advice."

Some other county councillors say they've been pleasantly surprised by the Act Local scheme's impact so far.

Councillor Stephen Peters said: "When there was a threat to the local library in Wythall, we came together to form a charity, 'Wythall together'.

"In the end we didn't continue with taking over the library but community transport did, and in the first six months of operation it's made 1,088 journeys.

"That's just the result of one dial-a-ride service."

But some others say youth projects need much more support if they are to get off the ground.

Lib Dem group leader Councillor Liz Tucker said: "With my youth hat on, the sheer difficulty in getting any youth funding is very difficult."

Just some of the other pieces of work now done by volunteers include tree wardens, public health walks, the sweeping of public rights of way and even washing and marking finds from archaeological excavations.

Bosses at County Hall revealed earlier this month how the council wants to go further, saying the threat of Government funding being cut further means the project must expand.