A POP-UP shop raised thousands of pounds for a life-changing operation for a York schoolgirl.

Poppy Wadsworth, from Poppleton, is eight and lives with cloaca – a congenital birth condition which means several of her internal organs are not properly separated.

Doctors in Columbus, Ohio, have pledged £50,000 towards a £100,000 operation to help improve her condition and give her a more normal life, and her friends and family are trying to raise the remainder.

On Sunday, a pop-up shop was staged at All Saints Hall in Station Road, and hundreds of people visited to pick up a bargain and compete in a silent auction for special prizes.

Organiser Emma Schofield said they raised between £3,700 and £3,800 towards Poppy’s fund, which currently stands at just over £20,000, meaning they are closer than ever to the halfway point of their target.

She said: “The ladies loved the dresses, bags and shoes of course, with the Mulberry bags that were donated being snatched up. The take and donate table was popular, and we put a donation bucket on top of the table surrounded by clothes. The silent auction was very successful, and three sets of Shed Seven tickets sold for £351 each.

“I don’t how I can thank everyone who helped me. I think probably my husband Richard and his company Evora Construction for letting me use lots of work hours to phone and email people for donations. Westfield School has also been amazing in all this, being a clothes drop point and selling raffle tickets even though Poppy’s from a different school.”

Alison, Poppy’s mother, said: “It was an amazing turnout and the support we got was overwhelming.”

To donate to Poppy’s fund, go to justgiving.com/Alison-Wadsworth