BBC WEATHER presenter Paul Mooney opened a new hospice shop yesterday (Saturday, January 23).
Mr Mooney cut the ribbon to declare open Willow Burn Hospice’s new shop in Birtley, Gateshead.
The shop is the Lanchester-based hospice’s fifth, the others being in Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Consett and Stanley.
It aims to have ten and the next will open in Lanchester in March.
Mr Mooney said: “I’m sure that the shop is going to become very popular very quickly.
“And I also know that, come rain or shine, the people of Birtley will continue to do all they can to support a charity which does so much to support their local community.”
Hospice chief executive Helen Mills added: “It’s really important for us to have a presence on the high street. Not only does it help our income, but it also increases awareness of the work we do.”
Established in 1989, the hospice has helped more than 10,000 patients.
It opened a day hospice 18 months ago and is planning a new £2.2m in-patient hospice, which will be ready by 2020.
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