A NINE-year-old with severe disabilities helped to open a new charity shop.

East Anglia's Children's Hospices officially opened it's new charity shop in Main Road, Dovercourt.

On Thursday, Harry Rolph-Wills, aged nine helped his mum, Laura, to cut the ribbon.

Harry suffers from a rare form of Batten disease, which is found in just one or two children in the UK each year, and has resulted in a gradual loss of sight, mobility and speech.

The family have been receiving care and support from EACH since 2014.

Laura, of Grafton Road, Dovercourt, said: "It was a great honour for Harry and I to be asked to officially open the new EACH shop.

"Harry has been a user of the Treehouse in Ipswich since being diagnosed with Batten disease in 2014

"EACH is not only there to support Harry but to support our whole family.

"They provide us with additional emotional and practical support when needed.

"Without having such a wonderful service available, we wouldn't be able to look after Harry as we do and to have a shop locally is amazing."

The Dovercourt shop is the charities first shop of 2019 and is its largest single floor outlet with a range of ladies clothes, books, bric-a-brac, a men's department, as well as a children's zone with reading tepee, colouring tables and blackboards.

Customers streamed through the door, spending £950 in the first two hours of trading.

Emma Manning, EACH shop manager, said: “We’ve received fantastic support from people in the build-up to and during our opening, and really look forward to developing our relationship with this community.

"EACH is known for having well-presented shops featuring a range of stock, great staff and volunteers.

"It’ll be no exception here, so please pop along to see if you can find a bargain, have items to donate and/or a few spare hours to volunteer.”

The Dovercourt shop becomes EACH’s fourth in Essex, joining others in Halstead, Clacton-on-Sea and Stanway.

Donations of clean and good-quality items, including toys, jewellery and small electrical items, are welcomed.

EACH is also calling for donations of good-quality furniture and can collect it free of charge. Call 01255 446999 for more information.

To volunteer at the Dovercourt shop email emma.manning@each.org.uk, or call 01255 442707 or just drop by for a chat.