AN EMPTY shop in Leigh is to be turned into a charity pop-up shop.

Long-standing business Holmes Furnishers in Broadway West closed suddenly in January.

It left customers who had paid deposits for new sofas without their orders and out of pocket.

But the building is now to be given a new lease of life as Southend Hospital opens a second charity shop.

Following the continuing success of its first charity shop in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, the pop-up shop will be open until the end of December, thanks to the generosity of a local landlord.

All profits will go to Southend Hospital Charity for the benefit of patients, with the shop raising money for the hugely successful Bosom Pals On The Road Appeal.

It is in its last weeks of raising money for new digital mammography equipment on the mobile breast screening vans that visit south Essex.

The new Leigh shop is in urgent need of good quality stock for the shop such as homeware, bric-a-brac and furniture.

The shop was open on Saturday to accept donations and will be open again on Thursday from 10am to 2pm. Volunteers are also needed to help run the shop.