A YORK charity shop which has raised thousands of pounds for St Leonard's Hospice celebrated its tenth birthday surrounded by loyal customers.

Staff and volunteers at the shop in Fourth Avenue, Tang Hall, invited customers and local residents to share the anniversary with them.

Helen Moreton, St Leonard's Hospice community fundraiser, said: "It is a wonderful community-based shop with regular customers who really appreciate the good quality clothes, toys and household goods that can be found there.

"There is also an innovative re-cycling scheme with loyal customers making re-sellable things from items donated."

Shop manager Sue Bonarius said: "We have a wonderful band of volunteers who sort the goods and sell behind the counter and make this a friendly place.

"I should like to thank them and also all our customers and those who donate goods, for making this shop a successful fundraiser for the hospice and, I believe, an asset to the community."

The hospice also runs shops in Haxby, Acomb and Pocklington, as well as regular market stalls in the centre of York.

Updated: 11:40 Thursday, January 09, 2003