A CHARITY has opened its largest ever outlet on a Poole industrial estate, in a bid to raise vital funds for the Joseph Weld Hospice's running costs.

The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust outlet opened on Didcot Road, Nuffield Industrial Estate - and now it needs support from the community.

Weldmar's director of retail operations Valerie Burnham said: "We are very excited to have opened a Weldmar outlet on the Nuffield estate - our first in this part of Dorset.

"This is the largest of our outlets - and it is dependent on support from our local residents and community.

"We also need volunteers to help in the shop and anyone interested is invited to come in and talk with the manager."

The Joseph Weld Hospice is situated in Dorchester, and cares for patients with cancer and other progressive conditions, such as motor neurone disease, who need specialist help.

Patients from across Dorset are either cared for at the inpatient unit, at wellbeing centres or in their own homes.

A hospicecare trust spokesman explained: "Weldmar's services are free and they only receive a third of their funding from the NHS. This means that our chain of charity shops and outlets provide a vital contribution toward's the charity's running costs.

"Donations of clothes, shoes, accessories, jewellery, linens, household goods, books, DVDs and bric-a-brac are all much appreciated and can be brought to the shop. Any donations of furniture can be collected by Weldmar, free of charge, by calling the manager Sharon Thorne on 01202 672 940.

The outlet, at 2 Didcot Road, Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, BH17 0GD is now open, Monday to Saturday, 9am-5pm, with plans to start trading on Sunday soon.