A NEW shop opened by St David’s Hospice Care will help the charity fund an increase in demand for its services throughout Monmouthshire.

The new boutique premises, located in a former art shop opposite Marks and Spencer in Thomas Street, Chepstow, was officially opened by the town’s mayor Councillor Paul Pavia.

Cllr Pavia said: “The new shop is in an ideal location. The shop is another asset for Chepstow and will hopefully add further to shopper footfall in the town centre generating much needed funds for the charity.

“St David’s Hospice Care is a very well known and highly respected charity serving  our community in Chepstow, throughout Monmouthshire as well as other parts of south east Wales.”

St David’s Hospice Care Chief Executive Emma Saysell said: “The demand on our services, particularly in Monmouthshire, continues to increase. Money generated from this new shop will help us in our efforts to support the growing number of patients we care for throughout the community in Monmouthshire.

“We’re very pleased to have been able to secure this really fantastic location for our new boutique shop in Chepstow and to be able to get it opened ahead of Christmas.”

The new shop will concentrate on stocking  ladies clothes, ornaments and bric-a-brac while another in Moor Street stocks larger furniture, household goods, men’s and women’s clothes, toys, books, CDs, various collectable items and curios.

The two shops employ three permanent and 12 volunteer staff across the two town centre locations. The charity also has another shop in Bulwark.

St David’s Hospice Care has its headquarters in Malpas, Newport, where it has a day hospice and where a £5m, 15-bed in patient hospice is currently under construction and is due to be completed next year. The charity has 39 shops throughout south Wales and Powys employing some 90 staff and more than 200 volunteers.