"Oh hello, have you come in to see the teacup," a lady behind the till says to a couple who wandered into Acorns Children's Hospice charity shop just moments before me.

They are led to the back of the St Peter's store and wait patiently before deputy manager Sandy Ditchburn reappears from the storeroom with the aforementioned cup in hand.

After a brief inspection, the couple seem happy with the Royal Worcester ceramic and purchase it - I found out later that the couple are collectors and also good customers of the shop.

And they are not the only ones making the most of the St Peter's store's treasure - there are children browsing the toys, women checking out clothing and another browsing the china.

Even I spotted a couple of nice skirts and a dress which take my fancy, but I am not here to shop, I am here to speak to the people who keep the Acorns shops running and find out more about the service which raises around £1.5million for the hospices.

After bidding goodbye to the antique collectors, I am introduced to Sandy who explains that Mondays are often their busiest days.

"People have had a sort out at their homes over the weekend or maybe didn't sell some stuff at a car boot sale and bring them into us.

"We get some great donations - we call it manic Mondays."

Forget those out-of-touch stereotypes of the charity shop - tat, stale smell, stock everywhere - Acorns' shop is like any other high street clothing retailer.

Bright and cheerful, there are well known brands here - I spot White Stuff, Per Una, Atmosphere labels everywhere.

Shelves are filled with good quality toys and good as new bric-a-brac including a quirky zebra motif cup and saucer set I have my eye on.

Keeping it all to a high standard is manager Sarah Langford who has a background in retail having worked at Selfridges in Birmingham - she follows the trends, make sure the stock is seasonal and is all displayed immaculately.

Just as we are about to start chatting Leanne, one of the delivery drivers, appears ready to pick up stock for the charity's other shops across the county including Mealcheapen Street, Upton and Barnard's Green.

Leanne is one of 240 retail volunteers in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, and one of over 1,300 keeping the 50 plus stores running across the heart of England.

Sarah explains how they rotate stock through each of the stores fortnightly and also work to season when she drops the bombshell that she has a few jobs for me to do.

First, a challenge: "We thought it would be good for you to have a go at dressing one of the window mannequins," she says before giving me a few hints and tips.

I pick a short green and white dress, smart emerald green bag and as I look for accessories, a woman stops me.

"Do you have any blue handbags?" it turns out she is shopping for her son's wedding and, after exhausting the high street shops, has come to the St Peter's shop.

Sandy dashes upstairs to have a look returning with several bags in different shades of blue.

Throughout the day there are requests for many different things from men's clothes (which they don't do) and children's clothing (which they do).

Donations are brought into the shop regularly throughout the day - from a plastic bag of clothes to bin bags of items - it is clear that given its proximity to the Bath Road hospice, many people living in the area has taken the shop to their hearts.

The Worcester hospice is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after opening its doors in 2005.

But what are the most extravagant things that have ever been donated.

Sarah said: "In the first shop I worked in at Barnard's Green someone donated a pair of Christian Louboutin heels, perfect red soles and still in their bag.

"We put one boot on display and kept the other in the store room and managed to sell them for £400.

"The other item we were given was a Jimmy Choo handbag which was bright blue and sold for £100."

With no Loubs on offer, I do make a purchase before I bid the shop farewell - a skirt, scarf and shirt for my baby nephew all immaculate and for under £10.

Every little helps.

Anyone wishing to volunteer in one of the shops should visit acorns.org.uk/shops.

Acorns shops in the Three Counties.

Worcestershire:

- Barnards Green

- Droitwich, Pershore

- Worcester (St. Peter’s)

- Upton on Severn

- Worcester (Mealcheapen Street)

- Bromsgrove

Gloucestershire:

- Cheltenham

- Moreton-in-Marsh

Herefordshire:

- Hereford,

- Ledbury

- Ross-on-Wye