CHARITY store bosses had to stop accepting donations after being 'overwhelmed' with support from the public.

AGE UK's new store, at the site of a former kitchen and bathroom showroom on the corner of Walney Road and Wilkie Road, Barrow, officially opened yesterday.

Staff welcomed customers back to the new store, which is set over two floors, with a separate furniture showroom.

Operations manager Vicki Martin said: “We’re so excited to be finally opening today. The store looks great and we’ve got a range of fantastic items for shoppers.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with the response from the public. The kindness of our customers is something else. We even had to stop taking donations at one point because we had so many donations to process.

“A lot of people who donate items to us are those who we have been in contact with in the past. People want to help us after we have helped them or their friends or family – it’s lovely to see the cycle of kindness in that way.”

Shop manager Susan Gibbons said the response from the public had been 'amazing'.

"We are so pleased with the reaction to us opening again," she said. "It’s been a long time coming and now we are looking forward to welcoming back our old customers and hopefully some new ones too.

“We looked at a few different locations and as soon as we saw this one we knew it would be perfect for us.”

Age UK chairman Steve Harris cut the ribbon at the official opening.

He said: “The store looks great. I can’t overstate how much effort everyone has put in to get the place ready for opening and it has definitely paid off.

“We hope that people visit us to browse the goods and get a bargain but also so they can learn more about us. AGE UK is more than just a charity shop.

"We help the ageing community of Barrow in many different ways through our services, helping elderly people stay connected and providing vital care.”

Former Cumbria High Sheriff Julie Barton was also at the grand opening of the store.

She said: “It’s wonderful seeing the store open today. I was Cumbria's High Sherriff last year during the worst of the pandemic and I saw first-hand the amazing community work the AGE UK volunteers did.

“They provided a helpline for anyone who needed extra assistance and delivered countless hot meals twice a week. Not only that, the emotional help and support that AGE UK provides for those in need is invaluable. I’m so glad the new shop is open. People’s donations and the money raised through the shop mean that AGE UK can continue providing their vital services.”