CHARITY volunteers worked night and day to turn a pop-up Halloween shop into a Christmas store that will raise funds towards its work.

The Angel Trust– for which television star Scarlett Moffatt and drag artist Tess Tickle are ambassadors– was set up in April to support individuals and organisations in County Durham and Darlington.

Last month it ran a Halloween shop in the former McIntyre shoe shop and Dorothy Perkins store on Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, and on Saturday it reopened as a Christmas shop.

The shop has a range of festive goodies, gifts and decorations and every weekend will host stalls by local businesspeople selling cakes to cosmetics.

Chief executive Clair McGregor said: "We closed the Halloween shop and Wednesday and had just two days to get it ready for Christmas.

"I was past myself but the volunteers rallied round and got it done– all those people, working for free were fantastic and will continue to be when they run the shop on a rota.

"We've had some great stock donated which means everything we sell is pure profit– 100 percent of takings goes back to help local people."

The Halloween shop raised £6,800 which the Trust put to good use for a number of beneficiaries.

Grants were given to sports clubs, women nominated by the public will enjoy a pamper day today, the family of a poorly girl was able to fulfil a dream to take her to Lourdes for a blessing and the charity hosted a party for 60 special children from the area.