THERE will be no excuse for Thames Water employees not to do a good deed at least twice a year thanks to a new scheme.

The company has launched an initiative called Time to Give which allows all its employees to take two days' paid leave a year to do voluntary work.

Three charities have been chosen to benefit from the scheme Age Concern, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Water Aid. It is the view of Thames Water that volunteering will help their employees learn new skills, meet new people and increase their self confidence.

Julia Cherrett, Thames Water's HR director, said: "We have launched this scheme to help our staff make a real difference to the communities in which they live and work.

"We hope that many employees who might have considered volunteering but never found the time will now give it a try."