A NEW Age Concern shop in Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu, has taken £6,000 since it opened just three months ago.

Age Concern is delighted at the success of the shop, the first it has opened in the Dibden Purlieu area.

The building also contains offices where older people who need the charity's help can discuss their problems in private.

Age Concern's previous offices were housed at The Grove, Hythe.

The new building was opened by former Saints' boss Lawrie McMenemy, honorary vice president of Age Concern Hampshire.

He was welcomed by Rita Strang, chairman of Age Concern, New Forest East.

She said: "It's becoming increasingly difficult to get local authority funding, so it's essential that charities do even more to raise their own money.

"This shop is one of many ways in which we're raising this funding. Thanks to the hard work of volunteers and the generosity of local people, who have provided the items for sale, it has proved an enormous success.

"When we first considered opening the shop people told us we wouldn't get volunteers and that no-one would give us any donations. But they were wrong on both counts.