The chief executive of a national animal welfare charity has paid tribute to the crucial work of volunteers, at the beginning of the 25th annual Volunteers’ Week.

Douglas Batchelor of the League Against Cruel Sports, said that the contribution made by volunteers was one of the reasons for the organisation’s success.

“The League has campaigned for over eighty years to bring an end to the cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of sport, and throughout our history we have relied on volunteers to undertake a range of tasks from investigations work to helping to run our supporter database.”

Volunteers’ Week runs from Monday June 1and is sponsored by the National Grid.

It aims to promote and celebrate the contribution of volunteers to charities and voluntary organisations across the country.

Research has found that 73% of the public volunteer in some capacity.