Society staff down tools for a quick tea break on the River Mel.

Cambridge Building Society staff exchanged their suits for wellies this weekend, in order to help a conservation group restore a river to its former glory.

Fifteen members of staff from the Society's Head Office, joined volunteers from Meldreth's River Mel Restoration Group on Saturday morning, in their efforts to increase the flow of the river where silt has built up.

The staff were involved in a number of tasks including building up the sides of the river bed with soil and gravel, planting reeds and clearing scrub land. The Society also made a donation towards the cost of the materials used on the day.

The event formed part of the Society's Make A Difference initiative, established last year to enable staff to co-ordinate, help and support local community projects.

Margaret Lynch, spokeswoman for the Restoration Group, said:

"The Make A Difference group were terrific. We got a lot done, which would have taken our usual ten or so volunteers much longer. Please give everyone our thanks."

A member of the Society's Make A Difference committee Jonathan Coombs, comments:

"We are really pleased to be able to help this project, which will enable the local community to enjoy the River Mel once more. This is the fourth event in the Make A Difference calendar, and we look forward to helping many more worthwhile causes in future."