MANY of us buy charity Christmas cards, but can you imagine doing your entire seasonal shopping in a charity shop?

That's the invitation from York Against Cancer (YAC), which has opened a specialist Christmas Shop in the centre of York.

It has turned the former Jones the Bootmaker shop in Pavement into a Santa's grotto.

"There is something for everybody here," says Di Yeomans, a volunteer with YAC. "You can get some little, token gifts, or do it all in one go."

From children's toys and games to handbags, scarves and candles, there is a wide range of choice for everyone in the family, adds Di. For men, there are amusing mugs as well as a hipflask and pocket-sized games.

All the stock is brand new and hand-picked by shop retail manager Pat Richardson. "I buy a lot online and go to fairs in Birmingham and Harrogate. When I am out, I am always looking at things to sell in the shop."

There are an array of Christmas decorations too as well as festive tableware.

New collections from Emma Bridgewater are also on sale as well as home items by popular designer Emma Ball. Other gift items include kitchenware tins by Happy Jackson.

There is a range of pretty vases, with prices starting at £2.50. "We have a range of prices," says Pat.

The shop opened earlier this month after being offered the prime site premises – opposite Marks & Spencer –free of charge, with help from the York Conservation Trust and Barry Crux & Co. It will be open until Thursday, December 21.

“We’ve found a number of charity shops for York Against Cancer over the years, and this one could be the best yet,“ said Rosie Crux, chartered surveyor from Barry Crux & Co.

Pat said the shop gives people more of a chance to support the York charity, now in its 30th year of fundraising.

She said: "People like to buy our Christmas cards. People realise we are a charity and they like to spend here. We have a sign up telling people that 100 per cent of profits from the shop go to the charity."

Di normally works in the YAC shop at York Hospital. She is a retired deputy head teacher and began volunteering after being treated for cancer herself.

She said: "People want to support this local charity because they know all the proceeds go back to it. People come back year after year saying they always buy their Christmas presents from us."

The York Against Cancer Christmas Shop on Pavement is open from Wednesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5.30pm and on Sundays from 11am to 4pm.