A CHARITY SHOP at the heart of a busy high street has been given a bright make over.

Crowds packed the Age UK shop in Yarm yesterday (Saturday, February 23) as it officially re-opened following major refurbishments.

It is hoped that the new shop will provide a more individual alternative to high street shopping for those who are looking for unique gifts and one-off items.

An eco-friendly approach will see the shop promote the value of recycling items via charity shops and a hub in the centre of the shop will allow visitors to access information about services and products offered through Age UK.

The in-store services are designed to help with alerting older people, carers and relatives to the help available from the charity.

The shop has been modernised with a new layout, wooden flooring and new furniture and will offer a wide range of donated and new items.

Shop manager Christine Johnson said: “The shop looks stunning - I’m really excited about its new look. We already have a loyal customer base, but hopefully the new stylish look will attract new customers.

“As always, we rely on the public donating their much-loved quality items to us and on volunteers giving their time to help run our shops, so we hope local people will support us in any way they can.

"Come and take a look, you’ll be surprised what you can find.”