VOLUNTEERS at an Oxfordshire hospice are hoping to boost their funds following the opening of a new charity shop.

The Katharine House Hospice shop in Chipping Norton, was opened last week by by Tory party leader and Witney MP David Cameron.

It is the sixth shop that will raise money specifically for the Adderbury-based hospice that cares for adults with in-patient beds, as well as having a day unit and community Macmillan nurses. The organisation needs to raise £1.4m every year to top up Government funding.

Elizabeth Whealdon, business director for Katharine House, said: "These shops are seriously important. Like most of the independent hospices, we only receive 30 per cent of our funding from the Government.

"The five shops we have bring in about £150,000 a year and we are expecting this latest shop to add to that figure - so they are a very important part of our income.

"It is a continuing challenge to raise enough money. Mr Cameron has supported us in other ways in the past, including taking part in a sponsored bike ride. He agreed to come and open the shop for us, where he spent about half an hour with us. He also said he would try to support us over the future funding of hospices."

The official opening, coincided with the launch of a new book written by hospice chairman and founder Neil Gadsby.

The book, called An Unfinished Journey, tells the story of Katharine House Hospice. It talks about Mr Gadsby's daughter, who died of cancer, and who the hospice was named after.

It is available for £7.50 at any of the hospice's shops or by mail order from the hospice.