CHARITY shop manager Kate Davies has expressed her delight at the response from customers to opening on a Sunday.

Kate runs the East Cheshire Hospice shop at The Paddock in Handforth, which extended its opening hours to include Sundays nearly a month ago.

Kate Davies said: “Sunday opening was something I had wanted to do for some time, but we needed to get a strong team of volunteers together before we could open for an additional day.

“It has been lovely to see so many new customers who can't shop on other days, as well as many regulars who pop in on Sundays when things are a little calmer.”

The shop, tucked away in a corner of The Paddock, opened nearly two years ago and has become an important part of the Handforth community.

Kate added: "I am so pleased that the shop goes from strength to strength.

“The East Cheshire Hospice, which is based in Macclesfield, has to raise more than £7,500 a day to continue providing care for adults with life limiting illnesses in our area.

“We play an important part in those fundraising efforts, and a wonderful part of my job is finding treasures in our donations.

“That really can be anything, from an old teasmaid set, furniture or gold bracelets and designer clothes through to great children's toys. I had fun setting up a Brio train track which was donated.

“Only last week, a huge imitation elephant's head was donated, which was sold within 24 hours.

“You just never know what you will find next, and that is what makes charity retail so exciting to me.

“Of course it also means that our customers never know what they will be able to buy next, and makes the shop an intriguing place to browse, whether on a Sunday, from 10am until 3pm, or the rest of the week from 9am until 4pm.

“With free parking, the shop is a great place to donate pre-loved items, to work as a volunteer or simply to shop.”