A Luton charity shop is calling on graduates to boost their CVs by volunteering behind the till.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) in George Street is encouraging university leavers to put in a few charity hours while they look for their first job.

The recruitment drive comes as new figures show that BHF has a severe shortage of volunteers, with 71 per cent of all shops having less than the required number of hours of support.

Bedfordshire area manager Gareth Julian said: "BHF shops in Bedfordshire offer a wide range of roles that can provide young people with the transferable skills and the first job experience they need to stand out.

"And they can gain this knowing they are helping in the fight against heart disease in their local area, which remains the nation's biggest killer."

Every week, every BHF shop needs 45 hours of volunteer support to help behind the till, 35 hours behind the scenes sorting and selecting stock, and 35 hours steam cleaning donated clothes.

For more information on BHF volunteering opportunities visit bhf.org.uk/shops or call 0844 412 5000.