Charity shops that are struggling to find volunteers say juggling their workload is “hell”.

Volunteers in charity shops across Borehamwood have been unable to find more people to help with the day-to-day running of their stores.

There are several charity shops in Shenley Road and most say they are finding it difficult to work with such a depleted team.

Adam Scott, a sales assistant at Barnardos, says the team relies heavily on teenagers who volunteer an hour a week as part of the Duke of Edinburgh programme, or reformed criminals carrying out community service.

He said said: “It’s never enough though and the trick is getting them to stay. They are a huge help but once they’ve done their duty, they go and don’t come back.

“We are struggling and we could do with more hands. Last week I was here by myself trying to work the tills, and sort out stock, and it was hell.

“It’s strange because our Whetstone branch has a lot of volunteers. It upsets me a bit that people don’t really seem to want to work that much nowadays.”

Mr Scott, a father, said he began volunteering as a way in to employment and never looked back.

Volunteers are needed to help sort through bags of clothes and items, man the tills and help out with the hectic day-to-day running.

He added: “What people don’t realise is that volunteering is a great way to get into employment and pave the way for other things.

“I wanted to give something back when I started here and I needed some job references, and now here I am.”

Staff at the Cat and Kitten Rescue Shop, in Manor Way, Borehamwood, fear it will have to close on certain days if nobody comes forward.

The shop is open to customers on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm, but Ms Fowler is keen to open on more days and for longer hours.

Viv Fowler, the trustee manager of the shop, which opened two years ago, says it is only staffed by a handful of volunteers.

She said: “The support we’ve had from the community is brilliant but I can’t find anyone who won’t let me down. We’ve got a good bunch of people who help but not enough.

“We’ve had people on work experience not turn up and let us down. It’s just so difficult.”

Terry Forster, the assistant manager at Cherry Lodge Cancer Care, in Shenley Road, said: “We’ve lost track of how many volunteers we’ve had.

“Saturdays and afternoons are one of our biggest bugbears. We wouldn’t close no matter what though, but we do struggle and it would be nice to have more volunteers on our books.”