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Richmond has many fine vistas but one of the most iconic is the sweeping view down Frenchgate - and now it needs a little help to look shiny, spic and span to welcome visitors to the town.

The Richmond Yorkshire Community Interest Company (CIC) is aiming to restore the railings at the top of Frenchgate and around the Green Howards Memorial.

"Almost everyone is familiar with the attractive cast iron railings at the top of Frenchgate and around the war memorial,” said Donald Cline, one of the CIC directors. "Sadly, they have been looking rather unloved just lately.”

The railings were last painted around 20 years ago and as this heritage feature is one of the first things visitors see when they come to Richmond, the CIC thought it would be nice to have them repainted.

After a wonderful offer of help from Richie Smith of Richard D Smith Painting and Decorating (Whashton), and the securing of Locality Budget funding by local councillor, Stuart Parsons, the CIC are now asking volunteers to donate just ONE HOUR of their time to get this much-needed piece of restoration work done for the town.

Richie said: “I’ve been really impressed by the ideas coming from the Richmond CIC and rather than do the railing painting as a paid job, I said we’d like to get involved by donating our time and expertise.”

Richie and his team are hoping to put in three days from August 7 to 9, and with the summer weather as unpredictable as ever, it’s a case of ‘the more volunteers, the merrier’ to get the railings painted as quickly as possible.

So that volunteer offers can be scheduled in advance and easily coordinated on site by Richie, the CIC needs people who want to give an hour to the project, to register beforehand.

It’s easy to register and everything will be supplied including goggles, masks and gloves. Even the paint has been donated by Dulux!

Donald added: “Sometimes people are put off by the complexity of helping out in their own community, but the Paint the Railing Initiative has done all the arranging for this ambition job and now just need for a few volunteers to join the party.

“If you can spare an hour, do please sign up.”

To register to help, visit www.richmondyorkshire.co.uk/paint