Staff at Devon Air Ambulance’s charity shop in Sidmouth are hoping to reopen in the next few days.

Sidmouth Herald: The Cats Protection charity shop in Sidmouth. Picture: Cats ProtectionThe Cats Protection charity shop in Sidmouth. Picture: Cats Protection (Image: Cats Protection)

People will be able to donate unwanted goods and buy items on sale, but with new Covid-secure precautions in place.

Customers will not be able to browse the shelves, but there will be many more items on display in the shop windows.

There will also be a virtual store on Facebook where people can choose from pictured items and collect them from the shop, and there will soon be a DAAT shop on eBay too.

Anyone wanting to donate should phone the shop on 01395 514329 to arrange a time slot to drop off their items, and all donated goods must be set aside for 72 hours before they can be prepared for sale, to ensure minimum risk of contamination.

Retail operations manager, Chrissie Peel, said: “We are delighted to be able to open our shops and welcome our supporters once again into an area that they feel safe and protected.

“We are looking forward to receiving their donations and giving them the opportunity to buy some amazing items.”

Meanwhile Sidmouthh’s Cats Protection charity shop has also reopened.

It will be accepting donations on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but people are asked to bring no more than two bags or boxes full, because of the small storage area and the need to ‘quarantine’ goods for 72 hours. Donated goods should also be in containers the shop can keep, as they cannot be returned.

Anyone wanting to bring items for donation is asked to call 01395 513394 to make sure the shop has room for them, before coming in.