A ONE-of-a-kind shop set up to help a school fund a new Astroturf football pitch is pulling out all the stops to reach its �80,000 target.Based on Great Yarmouth's Broad Row and named the Caister High Sports Department Charity Shop, it is now holding bi-weekly auctions and has extended its opening hours to help raise funds for the �160,000 pitch project.

A ONE-of-a-kind shop set up to help a school fund a new Astroturf football pitch is pulling out all the stops to reach its �80,000 target.

Based on Great Yarmouth's Broad Row and named the Caister High Sports Department Charity Shop, it is now holding bi-weekly auctions and has extended its opening hours to help raise funds for the �160,000 pitch project.

The attempt to expand operations follows on from a successful launch late last year which has seen growing numbers drop in to buy, and donate, items ranging from watches to wardrobes.

Jenni Bailey, 48, was one of those involved in an original idea and helped bring it to fruition - which has so far helped raise nearly �1,500.

She said: “We're doing really well at the moment and we've almost got more than we know what to do with, and we've also had a lot of help from nearby t-shirt printers Turnstiles who have helped a lot.”

However, Jenni, whose twin boys are in year 9 at the school, added that the auction, the first of which was held on May 1 and the second of which is tomorrow, provided another way of bringing in extra funds.

“The first one was inspired by an auction I saw in Caister Community Centre and it went really well; we managed to raise �164 and had everything from a laptop to a lawnmower brought in by the public.”

The auctions are held at the charity shop's neighbour, the Diversity Community Centre, and there are also refreshments and a raffle on the day.

And alongside the new auctions, the charity shop has also been allowed to clear out the contents of two houses, including a two bed bungalow in Scratby following the death of the owner.

Manuel Mendonca, 55, has worked at the Diversity Community Centre for eight years. He said: “Especially with the cuts in education, there's less money for this kind of thing and it's very important that the whole community gets involved and that everything that can be done to help schools is done.”

People wanting to bring their items in to the community centre to donate on the day of the auction can do so from 10.30am till 2pm, with viewings taking place from 4pm and the auction running from 6pm.

The Caister High Sports Department Charity Shop is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday. To find out more, contact 07971402951.