Two mums are helping a high school towards its goal of a new football pitch by opening a charity shop in Great Yarmouth.In a scheme believed to be the first of its kind, Jenni Bailey and Liz Armstrong came up with the idea to help Caister High School obtain a new artificial playing surface made of G3 AstroTurf.

Two mums are helping a high school towards its goal of a new football pitch by opening

a charity shop in Great Yarmouth.

In a scheme believed to be the first of its kind, Jenni Bailey and Liz Armstrong came up with the idea to help Caister High School obtain a new artificial playing surface made of G3 AstroTurf.

Caister High School Sports Depart-ment Charity Shop opened on Saturday in Broad Row, with all profits going towards the cost of the project.

Jenni, 48, whose twin boys attend the school, said: “The idea came up between me and a friend, Liz Armstrong, after a parents' meeting, and we were listening to the fact that they had a buying wish- list but not the money.

“We sat down and discussed what could be done, and I thought: 'Why not have a charity shop?' If it goes well I'm sure it will catch on.”

The 20 people who turned up for

the opening included parents of children from the school, and the ribbon was cut by Andy McMillan, community sports development teacher at Caister High.

He said: “We want to give our thanks to them for getting involved with helping the school as it provides a direct link between us and the local community in terms of raising

money.”

Among goods to be bought were three vanloads given by a nearby caravan park. Shoppers had a choice of everything from salt and pepper shakers to computer desks.

Jenni, from Gorleston, estimated that about �100 had been made over the first two days.

She added: “It's brought out the charitable nature of local people, and I was really impressed.

“I don't think we did too badly, and

in this climate people are shopping

in charity shops more than ever.”

The shop has 10 volunteers and will be staffed permanently by Mrs Armstrong's 20-year-old daughter Ruth, who until recently has been working at the British Heart Foundation shop in Yarmouth. She hopes eventually to go into childminding and will become a full-time manager of the shop in the new year.

Ruth said: “I got involved because I think it is a good cause to raise money for the children like this and help

them in school. I found it quite easy, and I'm loving it at the minute.

“Some of the things coming in you don't expect to see very often, like some beautiful glass fish that must have been made in the early Sixties or even before that.”

Caister High opened a new �1.4m sports hall at the beginning of this term, replacing its 1960s gym, after receiving a �600,000 grant from Norfolk County Council.

The Caister High Sports Department Charity Shop is open from 9am to 3am, Mondays to Saturdays.