FUNDRAISING at a much loved Dorset charity has been given a boost with the opening of a new store in Dorchester.

Weldmar Hospicecare Trust officially declared its new outlet store at the Marabout Industrial Estate open for business.

The new store offers a large premises for the charity to display and sell a wide range of donated goods including furniture.

The charity is hoping to build on the success of the outlet on the Poundbury Industrial Estate, which will remain open as a clearance outlet for items from Weldmar's chain of 19 charity shops and three outlets across the county.

The new store is also now the fourth Weldmar store in the county town, alongside the Poundbury Industrial Estate outlet, the book shop in South Street and the charity shop in Trinity Street.

Chairman of Weldmar Stephen Baynard had the honour of cutting the ribbon at the opening event.

He said the new store was able to offer something different to the existing stores in the town and would add to the retail offer for customers.

Mr Baynard said: "This one is in a different league and I'm sire it's going to be incredibly successful."

He added that retail was a major income generator for the charity, bringing in around £2million a year to support its vital work in providing end of life care in Dorset.

Director of retail for Weldmar Valerie Burnham said the new store would not have been possible without the support of the charity's donors.

She said: "We are very delighted and we can only do it with our wonderful donors, they are the most important thing to us."

Mrs Burnham said it had taken around a year to get the new store off the ground and they had learned lessons from each of the previous stores around the county to ensure it offered customers the best possible experience.

She said: "This is a larger store in a better location."

Senior sister at the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester Sally-Anne Baverstock said seeing new fundraising ventures like the outlet store gives everyone at the charity a lift.

She added: "The funds are so important for things like our clinical supplies."

Volunteers at the charity's stores are regularly given tours around the hospice to remind them why they are working to raise funds for the charity and they can see where their efforts are going.

The new outlet at the Marabout Industrial Estate will be open from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

The clearance outlet at the Poundbury Industrial Estate will be open from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday to Saturday.