A Canvey charity has opened its own shop in the island’s town centre.

Shoppers flocked to look around the new Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped shop in the Knightswick Centre when it opened its doors for the first time yesterday.

The charity runs a workshop on Canvey’s Charfleets Industrial Estate, which provides employment and care for adults with disabilities.

They are currently trying to raise £200,000 to buy a new building to expand their operations and are hoping takings from the shop will give the fundraising a boost. Charity founder Joan Lythgoe, 80, said: “We are going to see how it goes. We are trying to raise funds for the new building at the moment, but if the shop works out we will stay as long as we can.

“We had lots of people through the doors for our opening day and were busy all day long. It has been brilliant.”

Volunteers from lots of local ladies clubs have signed up to help out running the shop, while Canvey resident John Potter fitted out the shop for free.

Donations of goods have been flooding in in recent weeks.

Mrs Lythgoe, of Beveland Road, Canvey, added: “We had enough to fill all the shelves, but we are always looking for more.”

The shop has opened next door to Castle Point Council’s regeneration shop in what used to be Trade Counter and before that Julian Graves health food shop.

Residents and traders have been concerned about the number of charity shops in the town centre, but Castle Point mayor David Cross, who attended the opening, welcomed the addition of a local charity.

He said: “I’m a great believer in local people helping each other out.

“Boph is a brilliant charity that does a lot of good and Joan is an amazing woman.

“The opening was very nice and very well attended. I wish them all the best.”