There is a shortage of school governors in Wiltshire, with about 300 vacancies at any one time and the county council is on the lookout for more volunteers.

The council's governor support manager David Marriott said: "We are looking for people from a wide range of backgrounds. It is not necessary to be a professional or a parent at the school to be a governor.

"Governors need to be able to work as part of a team, get along well with other people and be prepared to learn. It is a challenging role but support is provided by both the county council and the school.

There are nearly 4,000 governors in Wiltshire, making them the biggest group of volunteers in the county.

Governors play a key role in the management of a school and have responsibilities in dealing with a wide range of issues such as finance, school premises, the curriculum and head teacher appointments.

Mr Marriott said: "Being a governor is a rewarding position as it gives you the chance to give something back to your community."

A series of recruitment evenings are being held around the county, with a taster session in Melksham on March 16.

Anyone interested can book a place on the recruitment evenings by ringing the council's support team on (01225) 713821.