A NEW flagship 'department store' style charity shop has opened at the heart of Wrexham town centre.

Nightingale House Hospice has breathed new life into the former Boots store in Regent Street, converting the two-tier premises into a shopper's paradise.

Video and images by Craig Colville

The new shop is the charity’s biggest yet and stocks a range of products including womenswear, menswear, children’s wear, furniture, homeware and upcycled furniture.

Shoppers are also able to enjoy refreshments upstairs in the in-house café and can browse a wide selection of books and DVDs in the store’s media centre.

The Deputy Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Rob Walsh was there to share the honour of cutting the ribbon with young fundraisers, Susana Vaughan, Olivia Goldsmith and Cleo Purslow, who have raised thousands of pounds for the hospice through various events.

As more than 100 people came through the doors within minutes of the store opening, John Donnelly, the hospice's head of retail, said it was a proud day for everyone involved.

"It's been a long time in the planning," he said.

"We have always wanted a shop in the town centre and we have never been really represented here before, and we wanted a large format store.

"It is great to see so many people here today for the opening, it is wonderful to have so much support from the community, who obviously support the hospice and what we do."

He added: "People have described it as a mini department store and I think it adds something to the town centre, and gives people a reason to come in to the town centre.

"They are able to spend a long time here, browsing around the store, the books and have a coffee upstairs."

The new store becomes the 10th outlet for the hospice which serves the communities of Wrexham, Flintshire, North Shropshire, areas of east Denbighshire, Bala, Dolgellau and Barmouth.

It costs over £3 million a year to run the hospice and it is hoped the new store will create a positive shopping experience, offering good quality new and used goods, whilst at the same time raising much needed funds.