A SEDGLEY-based charity cleared out by Christmas shoppers has launched an urgent appeal for new stock for its shops.

Stores raising cash for the Beacon Centre for the Blind had their busiest-ever shopping season in the run-up to the holidays and shelves are now short of items.

Charity chiefs are calling on people to donate unwanted gifts or items being cleared out after the festive season for their stores in Wolverhampton, Bilston, Bloxwich, Wednesbury, Cannock, Halesowen.

Tracey Ford, retail operations manager at the Beacon Centre for the Blind, said: “Everyone loves to give at Christmas, but sometimes what we receive isn’t quite what we were hoping for.

“If you have unopened toiletry sets or candles that aren’t the right scent for you, novelty socks you know you’ll never wear or household ornaments that don’t match your home décor, please consider bringing them to one of our charity shops.

“The average bag of donations raises around £25 for the charity, so if you need to make space for all the goodies you gained over the festive season, please do consider bringing your pre-loved items to your nearest Beacon shop.”

Cash raised by the shops funds Beacon facilities and support for partially sighted people, including a mix of residential, day care and community services.

More than 3,000 people receive support from Beacon's teams of dedicated outreach workers while social groups regularly meet at the Sedgley centre for arts and crafts, music, fitness and IT sessions.

For more information visit www.beacon4blind.co.uk