CHILDREN’S charity Barnardo’s has opened its newest shop in Melksham and are hoping to recruit new volunteers to help them make their newest venture a huge success.

The Verbena Court store is the first to open in the retail development behind The Water Meadow pub on the eastern side of the town.

Barnardo’s area business manager Emma King said: “We take great pride in our network of fundraising shops and we look forward to seeing lots of residents coming inside for a closer look.

“We’re sure they will be impressed by what they find. It’s bright, spacious and modern.

“This location has so many advantages. It’s easily accessible from the eastern relief road which means donors won’t get stuck in traffic in the town centre.

“It also has plenty of free parking immediately outside the shop, and should attract lots of interest from people using the nearby convenience store and restaurant when they eventually open too, as well as the primary school.

“And with so many new houses all around, hopefully we’ll be their first choice whenever they want to donate their pre-loved items to a good cause.”

The new shop is managed by Rita Barham together with sales assistant Ayla Lovegrove and is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm.

Miss King added that the charity hopes to recruit a number of volunteers to help raise money to support children in the UK who are challenged by poverty, abuse, disability or discrimination.

She said: “Now that the shop is open, we hope to recruit a fun and friendly team of volunteers who can help with sorting the stock, steaming the clothes, arranging displays and serving customers.

“Volunteering provides valuable retail experience for people who want to add new skills to their CV and can often be an important stepping stone to paid employment – several former volunteers have even gone on to manage their own shops.”

For more information, visit www.barnardos.org.uk.