DORSET’s children’s hospice is launching a one of a kind charity shop in Dorchester.

Julia’s House Children’s Hospice will be opening one of the biggest charity shops in the county at 34 South Street on Friday, April 20.

The charity has issued an appeal for volunteers and stock to fill the shop, which will sell everything from clothing and accessories to bric-a-brac and furniture.

Nuala Wood, a retail assistant at Julia’s House, said: “People have already been really generous with donating stock but we need more because we have to fill two floors.

“This will be our only store that will sell furniture and as far as we know that makes it a one-off charity shop in the area as well.

“It’s certainly going to be our biggest shop and has got three floors, two of selling space.

“What we are desperate for is people. We’re really short of volunteers. We need 20 because it’s such a big store – we need more than we usually would.”

She added: “It will be great.

“We’re really excited to get it open to the public and it’s in a really great location. The amount we will be able to raise from this shop will be unprecedented.

“Hopefully it will raise a lot of money for the charity.

“We definitely need as much as we can get in these tough times.

“On the opening day we’re hoping to get one of our children from the Dorchester area to come and open it and the town crier Alistair Chisholm will be there and we are planning on inviting the mayor as well.”

The new manager of the Dorchester shop Helen Hodgetts, who used to help manage the charity’s store in Poole, said: “We have been trying to get down here for such a long time.

“We are really excited to set up here and can’t wait to get it open and get people in the door really.

“We just hope it’s going to be a busy and fun place to be.”

Julia’s House, the only hospice for children with life-limiting illnesses in Dorset, is also planning to open another charity shop in Weymouth in June.

Donations can be dropped at the South Street premises. To find out more call 01305 267999.