COMMUNITY groups in Eastleigh are reaping the rewards of a town centre charity shop.

In the latest round of grants 28 local community groups have benefited from £7,320 in funds raised by the money-spinning Eastleigh Community Services shop in Market Street.

It's been a bumper year for the shop as the latest set of grants follows an earlier round in February when £6,424 was handed out to local good causes. Eastleigh Community Services (ECS) - an independent voluntary organisation set up to improve the quality of life for Eastleigh borough residents - first opened the shop in 1999 and have now ploughed back thousands of pounds into the community.

ECS chief executive Ken Dufton said: "This is money raised by Eastleigh people for Eastleigh projects.

"The people who donate items to the shop and the customers who buy them have helped to support 58 organisations within the borough in 2004 alone."

When it came to divide up the latest profits, the ECS grant-giving panel commented on the incredible variety of work local groups undertake for the benefit of the community.

Recipients of grants this November range from a toy library, pre-school group and children's breakfast club, to a disability forum, clubs for older people and a number of local support organisations.

Also included are theatre, music and history groups that ECS say add much to the cultural life of the community.

ECS - a registered charity - offers a raft of services such as the Eastleigh Voluntary Transport Scheme, Dial-A-Ride, Shopmobility, day care centres for frail and elderly people, respite for carers through a sitting service and playschemes for children with learning disabilities.

Anyone interested in the work of the charity shop or volunteers who would like to join its friendly team should contact ECS on 023 8090 2400.