CHARITY Marie Curie is opening its first Scottish store in months as Scotland moves to stage two of its route map out of lockdown.

The end of life charity will reopen its shop in Bearsden on Monday, June 29 as part of a pilot programme to test for social distancing rules and put in place new hygiene measures.

Marie Curie said it desperately needs support at this time as the closure of its shops has led to a massive shortfall in funding. It needs a quarter of a million pounds a week just to sustain its Scottish services, including the Marie Curie Hospice in Springburn.

Ann-Marie Strang, Marie Curie retail district manager said: “Not only do our shops provide a vital income so we can continue caring for dying people and their loved ones but we know lots of customers have also missed being able to come into our shop, hunt for a bargain and talk to our staff and volunteers.

“Charity shops give a sense of community you don’t always get in other high-street stores. We want everyone to feel supported and the safety of our staff, volunteers and customers is of the utmost importance, so we’ll be following a comprehensive range of safety measures.

“These include the quarantine of donations for a minimum of 72 hours to reduce the risk of contamination, increased cleaning, hand sanitiser stations and face coverings for staff and volunteers, as well as floor markings to ensure social distancing.

“Many of us have been sorting and clearing out preloved items from our homes. If you have any quality clothing, footwear, accessories, DVDs, CDs, books, homeware and small electrical items, please donate them to Marie Curie. The money we raise is essential for the charity to continue its vital work.”