A CHARITY shop is celebrating 21 years of raising vital funds for a York hospice.

St Leonard’s Hospice Shop on Waterloo Lane, Pocklington, opened on July 4, 1993, and has attracted strong support from the community ever since, selling donated goods with all the money raised going directly to help care for local people and their families.

Manager Pam Smith will toast the milestone with volunteers and customers during opening hours on Saturday with cake, balloons and raffles, and hopes to greet customers old and new.

Helen Moreton, retail manager for St Leonard’s Hospice, said: "This 21st birthday is a great milestone for our Pocklington shop, and we are very grateful that Pocklington has provided goods to sell willing customers, and volunteers to serve in the shop for all those years.

"We’d welcome more people to join us, so if you have some time to spare and enjoy meeting people, why not call in at the shop, or call 01759 305740 and see if you can help? That way we can look forward to more birthday milestones."