A tourist attraction and astronomical charity is appealing for more volunteers.

Northumberland's Kielder Observatory, which relies on volunteers to deliver its events, is hosting an Open Day on Sunday, August 4 at which astronomy enthusiasts can learn more about the charity.

The observatory organises more than 700 events annually, drawing up to 20,000 visitors to its base in the biggest gold tier dark sky park in Europe, within the Kielder Forest.

As a public outreach facility, Kielder Observatory sends astronomers and volunteers to schools and other institutions with the aim of sharing knowledge and inspiring individuals from different backgrounds to draw inspiration from the galaxy and dark skies.

Volunteering roles at the charity range from assisting with teas and coffees at events, to guiding visitors around the observatory.

The observatory recently underwent a facelift as a part of its summer solstice maintenance week, with more than 30 volunteers taking up cleaning equipment, gardening tools and paintbrushes for the cause.

Some volunteers have even ended up working for the charity.

Dan Monk, director of astrophotography and volunteer manager at Kielder Observatory, said: "Kielder Observatory means such a lot to the people who come here, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without our army of enthusiastic volunteers, who play an essential role in its upkeep and running.

"No experience is necessary; we only ask that they have a passion for astronomy and a curiosity for learning more.

"People can get as involved as they want.

"Some people come regularly and others once every six months.

"Our Open Day will give people the chance to see the observatory and meet the team, with an opportunity to ask questions and get to know more about us."

More details on the volunteering event can be found at https://kielderobservatory.org/our-events/all/volunteer-open-day-2-details.