STAFF at a refurbished hospice shop in Malvern Link are getting ready to welcome eager shoppers when it reopens its doors on Friday (February 26).

The shop in Worcester Road, operated by St Richard’s Hospice, will now specialise in selling books and media.

The premises was originally the hospice's only shop in Malvern Link, but has now undergone a major refit over recent months following the launch of its large department store just across the road.

The department store has proved a great success since opening last November, says the hospice and offers a wider selection of clothing as well as furniture, household and electrical items, and linen.

The specialist store, which opens its doors to the public at 9.30am, will offer a large selection of pre-loved books, music recordings and films.

The charity’s two stores in the Link have proved such a success that the call is going out for more volunteers to step forward and help run them.

Anyone able to volunteer a few hours a week is urged to call in and have a chat with the staff about the volunteering opportunities available.

Last year the hospice’s 18 shops across Worcestershire achieved a turnover of £2.37 million by selling good-quality clothes, bric-a-brac, books and furniture donated by local people.

Danny Corns, the hospice's commercial director, said; “At St Richard’s we are keen to learn lessons from the wider retail sector and are keen to offer our supporters a pleasant, modern shopping experience. We have developed a very successful chain of shops across the county and are very grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and the local community who generously support the hospice.”

St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,600 patients and family members in Worcestershire with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

Patients are cared for in the day hospice, the 17-bed in-patient unit or in their own homes by a specialist professional team as well as many trained volunteers.