It takes a staggering 98 of them alone to man the main house each week.

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They patrol its corridors, rooms and gardens, helping some of the 200,000 annual visitors get the full enjoyment from the north Leeds attraction.

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Now one of the country's premier stately homes is on the lookout for new recruits.

Personnel and training manager Sarah Irwin-Davis said: "We have a shortage of room stewards.

"These are volunteers who are based in Harewood House itself, both on the State Floor and the Below Stairs exhibition in the kitchens.

"They cover two or three rooms each and talk to the visitors about the house, the collections and the rooms themselves.

"We do not have an age policy, you just have to be somebody who's physically able to get here and like talking to the public."

The first volunteer group was set up in 1999 and this month celebrates its tenth year.

They now support the house's team of 47 permanent members of staff, working in every part of the stately home including the bird gardens. Mrs Irwin-Davis said: "The first volunteers were brought in because we wanted to open up the kitchens, which are now part of the Below Stairs exhibitions.

"We had to find loads of new staff and as a charity, volunteers were the answer.

"You don't need people who have got degrees in history or loads of knowledge about Harewood because we can give you all of that.

"I like to meet any future volunteers first for a sit down and cup of tea to discuss what they want to do."

* If you are interested in becoming a volunteer e-mail: sarah.i@harewood.org or call (0113) 2181039.