A LONG-serving volunteer and a well-known book expert in Ludlow has put her last book on the shelf and left the county.

It means that a Ludlow charity has lost the services of an expert who has helped to raise more than £75,000 and brought some classic literature to the town.

Helen Muir, an expert in rare books, has volunteered at Renaissance in Tower Street for more than seven years.

Well known in the town, she has been responsible for raising around £75,000 for The Furniture Scheme, the charity which runs the shop, through the sale of books alone.

Bosses believe thousands more has been raised through other work she has assisted with.

“I am delighted to have been able to put my knowledge to good use by working in Renaissance,” said Helen.

“The people of South Shropshire played a vital role in creating the bookshop, without their donations it could not have happened.

“I created a climate which encouraged the donation of a very wide variety of books which gradually improved to help us have a book department head and shoulders above the others.

“It has been a great pleasure for me to be able to sort through the many books we have had donated and find some extremely rare ones over the years.

“From the £900 Rambles by Yorkshire Rivers to an entire library of Greek and Latin classics, there have been some very exciting times in the shop.

“It is now time for a change of scene for me and I hope the team from The Furniture Scheme can find someone else to help out and keep the popular shop going.”

Helen, whose father was an antiquarian book-seller and taught her all she knows, began volunteering at Renaissance after travelling past the shop a few times and seeing it as a challenge.

So she went in and offered her help.

“Helen has been responsible for building up the reputation of our bookshop over many years,” said James Cooper, operations manager at The Furniture Scheme.

“People have visited us from Hay-On-Wye, world renowned for books and bookshops, and said this is the best bookshop outside of that town.

“We have been very lucky to have her here and are sad to see her go - but we are eager to build on the hard work she has done and will continue with this bookshop.

“We are looking for a new book expert to join our team of volunteers.”

Helen has moved to the Welsh coast.

The Furniture Scheme was launched over 20 years ago as a way to ensure some of the most excluded members of the community could benefit from recycled household items.

It now runs Rockspring Community Centre in Sandford Road, Ludlow and the Craven Arms Community Centre in Newington Way, Craven Arms.

Activities include computer courses, carpentry workshops, volunteering in the garden.

There is a holiday scheme for young people, weekly community lunches and a choir.

Visit www.furniturescheme.co.uk or call 01584 874922 for more information about the charity.