ALTON’S deputy mayor has officially opened the St Michael’s Hospice shop in Four Marks.

Allan Chick performed the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony with Iain Cameron, acting chief executive of St Michael’s Hospice, who thanked all attendees for their support of the hospice and its newest shop.

Among the guests were district councillor Ingrid Thomas, Shaun McCarthy of Four Marks Parish Council and Reverend Canon Howard Wright from The Good Shepherd Church in the village.

After last Thursday’s opening ceremony, the team from St Michael’s Hospice thanked Four Marks residents for their support and wished the shop, its staff and volunteers every success for the future.

The shop, one of 10 now run by the hospice, opened in September ahead of last week’s official unveiling.

Ann Schuster, head of retail at St Michael’s Hospice, said: “In the short time since opening our Four Marks shop, we have enjoyed a fantastic response from the local community with shoppers popping in to see what bargains are on offer, people dropping off donations and, of course, our wonderful team of volunteers helping with all aspects of its running.

“St Michael’s Hospice has already experienced incredible support in this area of North Hampshire with our Alton shop, and we fully expect our new Four Marks shop to be just as popular.

"As we approach the festive period we look forward to welcoming even more shoppers with some fantastic offers and huge range of items for everyone.”

Helping the new shop to get off to a good start, 85-year-old Rita Weiner has been crocheting poppies to be sold in aid of both St Michael’s Hospice and the Royal British Legion.

For the past three years Rita has crocheted more than 100 poppies for the St Michael’s Hospice shop on Alton High Street, and this year she doubled her efforts in a bid to supply the new Four Marks shop.

Her poppies are also being used for a special window display to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.