STONEHENGE is recruiting volunteers, to join the team during the centenary year of the monument being given to the nation, after the Neolithic stones had been in private ownership for thousands of years.

Cecil and Mary Chubb were the last owners of the stones in 1918 when they handed over official ownership to the public, having bought the historic monument at an auction in 1915.

English Heritage, who are now responsible for the stones and the surrounding area, hope more volunteers will get involved at the site to teach visitors about the historic stones.

Volunteer Wendy Taylor said: "My volunteering experience has been truly beyond expectations. I have made bread and learnt how to make cheese and, how to do this on an open fire! The visitors adore snippets of information they can take away from us, while the volunteers value each other’s contributions.”

Whether it's inspiring school children by giving talks or showing people how to start a fire and build a house in the same way at the Neolithic people did, English Heritage wants to hear from anyone keen for a new challenge.

Volunteer manager Sue Martindale said: “Visitors to Stonehenge are amazed by the monument itself and for many people it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it. But what really adds to the visitor experience is the role played by the volunteers, who give up their time to bring the history of the stones alive. Each volunteer does exactly the shifts they like, when they like.”

Apply online by visiting the English Heritage website at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-see-and-do/get-involved-at-stonehenge/#.