End of life care charity, Marie Curie, has opened the doors of its charity shop in Penarth and urgently needs the support of customers now more than ever.

The coronavirus has had, and continues to have, a devastating effect on Marie Curie's fundraising income – income upon which is relied upon to be able to provide vital care and support for dying people and their loved ones.

Following the government announcement about an easing of restrictions for the retail sector, the Marie Curie shop, located on Windsor Road, will be opening its doors after being closed for a number of months due to the pandemic.

David Slater, Marie Curie assistant shop manager, said: "Not only do our shops provide a vital income so we can continue caring for dying people and their loved ones, but we know lots of customers have also missed being able to come into our shop, hunt for a bargain and talk to our staff and volunteers. Charity shops give a sense of community you don't always get in other high-street stores.

"We want everyone to feel supported and the safety of our staff, volunteers and customers is of the upmost importance, so we'll be following a comprehensive range of safety measures. These include the quarantine of donations for a minimum of 72 hours to reduce the risk of contamination, increased cleaning, hand sanitiser stations and face coverings for staff and volunteers, as well as floor markings to ensure social distancing.

"Many of us have been sorting and clearing out preloved items from our homes. If you have any quality clothing, footwear, accessories, DVDs, CDs, books, homewares and small electrical items, please donate them to Marie Curie. The money we raise is essential for the charity to continue its vital work."

Visit the Marie Curie website to find out how to donate your preloved items and to find out more about how you can support Marie Curie.

Penarth Marie Curie shop:

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm