FANCY dressing up as a flamenco dancer or a 1920s flapper for this festive party season?

Then visit the St Leonard's Hospice Shop in Acomb, where your fancy dress hire fees will go towards the cost of running the hospice in Tadcaster Road.

The shop, in Regent Building, York Road, Acomb, has a wide range of fancy dress outfits for men and women, although no children's outfits, and partygoers can choose from styles including the Roaring Twenties, the 1940s, cowboy and cowgirl outfits - even a fez for those would-be Tommy Coopers.

In addition there are wigs and hats and a host of other accessories.

Some of the costumes, especially the Army and RAF uniforms, are the genuine article, some dating back more than 50 years.

Pat Addison, manager of the shop, said: "Now is the time of the year when people are looking for something different to wear at those fancy dress parties. We can help them - and their hire fees will help us, too, in our work of caring for local people and their families."

Hire charges range from £8 to £15 and a £10 refundable deposit is required.

Updated: 11:22 Thursday, December 12, 2002