A NEW charity shop in Spennymoor town centre, that will raise money to support local people, has already helped five trainees into work.

The Young Men's Christian Association store, in the High Street, was opened by Spennymoor's deputy town mayor, Christine Kennedy.

As well as employing a manager, Lorina Culine, daughter of town mayor Councillor John Culine, and an assistant manager, five other jobs have been created.

Members of the JobCentre Plus Basic Employability Training scheme, run by Sedgefield Borough Council, will work at the shop to add practical experience to the training.

Programme manager Chris Donaghy said: "The experience of working in a shop will boost trainees' confidence, increase basic skills and give them teamwork skills."

Money raised in the shop will go to local YMCA projects or individual support schemes for young people.