Bargain hunters who pay a visit to The Martlets Hospice's new furniture showroom in Hove, will be kept busy browsing through donations left by supporters.

The charity has been forced to expand its operation because its six existing shops do not have enough room to display larger items.

The showroom, which was due to open its doors yesterday, is a first for the Hove-based hospice.

Volunteers at the store will deal with hundreds of donations, which help raise the thousands of pounds needed each year to provide services for people with terminal illnesses and their families.

The showroom at Sussex House Business Park in Old Shoreham Road, is next to the hospice's new warehouse, which opened towards the end of last year.

Eve Collins, the hospice's retail manager, said: "We were getting so many donations that we realised we had grown out of our old warehouse.

"Moving out on to a bigger site means we have more room to deal with donations and can provide better working conditions for all our volunteers.

"It also helps us to run things smoothly and efficiently."

All donations are taken to the warehouse first where they are checked.

They are then cleaned, mended if necessary, restored and tested before being sent to one of the shops.

Mrs Collins said: "We are always grateful for donations as the shops contribute towards a large proportion of our funds."

The new showroom is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm.