A CHARITY that helps life-limited children desperately needs volunteers to help at its newly opened Pershore shop.

Acorns Children's Hospice Trust has urged people to sign up and volunteer some time each week, ideally weekday afternoons and Saturdays, to help serve customers as well as sort and price stock at its charity shop.

Trade

Since opening last November, trade at the High Street shop has exceeded all expectations - in fact the tills haven't stopped ringing.

Now, the store needs to more than double its current number of volunteers, from 16 to 40, to cope with demand.

"Our first day of trading was a record for Acorns and we were incredibly busy in the lead up to Christmas," said manager, Carol Griffiths.

"This level of phenomenal support is fantastic, but it means we need more people to help make sure the shop runs smoothly and help out behind the scenes."

The trust provides palliative care for children who are not expected to reach adulthood, as well as vital respite for their families.

It currently has two hospices, one in Birmingham and another in Walsall, which offer respite, emergency and terminal care.

The charity is campaigning to raise the final £1m of the £4m it needs to build a new hospice in Worcester.

Carol added: "All our shops play a vital role in raising revenue to support the much-needed care we provide to life-limited children and their families and the Pershore shop will play a big part in our fundraising appeal to build a new children's hospice in Worcester."

To volunteer, contact Carol on 01386 555561, or call in at the shop and have a look around.