YORK Samaritans has marked its half century with a birthday party with VIP guest the Lord Mayor Cllr Barbara Boyce.

It was 50 years ago this month that in York a band of 60 volunteers launched an emergency telephone line for people contemplating suicide to call.

The branch celebrated on Saturday with a party and open day at The Crescent Community Centre.

York Samaritans director Angela Jones said: "It's an amazing achievement to offer this service in the city for 50 years.

“We help and support thousands of people every year in the York area and currently have 118 listening and non-listening members, either trained or in training,” she said.

“The Samaritans offers a safe place for people to talk at anytime about whatever is getting to them - on the phone, in person at our office at 89 Nunnery Lane, online and via messaging on social media.Visit https://www.samaritans.org/branches/york-samaritans