AN American animal-loving couple joined the RSPCA's party in the Gillygate charity shop to celebrate its fifth birthday.

Nicholas and Elizabeth Barranca have given the shop regular trans-Atlantic donations for the last 18 months after they first visited the shop.

They have sent boxes of jewellery, ornaments, Christmas decorations and cash donations.

The charity shop opened on October 23, 1995, and has raised several thousand pounds for the York Animals Home in its five years of trading.

Christine Wood, from the shop, said: "When the shop first opened the costs had to be kept to a minimum so it looked very different from today.

"We used to use trestle tables to display some of our goods. However, we were able to refurbish the shop last year with donations of paint and shop fittings from local businesses and we now feel able to compete with other charity shops in York."

She added: "The Barrancas have been such kind, generous and compassionate people."

Elizabeth and Nicholas have four cats and ten extra that they feed, and a Rotweiller dog called Teddybear.

The couple, who are from Maryland, said they will continue supporting the shop.

Nicholas said: "This is a good source of revenue for the RSPCA as an opportunity for people to donate things they don't want."

Elizabeth added: "We think that the work done in this shop is so important in helping the welfare of animals".