COLCHESTER’S incredible support for Help For Heroes is to get a boost in the run-up to Christmas.

Paul Bentham, Lion Walk shopping centre manager, has donated a shop to sell Help for Heroes merchandise for a week.

The pop-up shop will be open at 4 Red Lion Yard, Colchester, from Wednesday next week until Wednesday, December 1.

It will open from 10am to 4.30pm, except on late-night shopping Wednesdays, when it will open until 7pm.

On sale will be the favourite Hero Bears in a variety of uniforms, cookery books, mugs, rugby shirts, polo shirts and T-shirts, as well as smaller items including fridge magnets, key-rings, Christmas cards, decorations and stocking fillers.

Mr Bentham said: “Help for Heroes is this year’s centre charity and we have already helped to raise more than £15,500. I served in the Army and RAF, so this is a charity close to my heart and I know it is popular in Colchester.

“I hope thousands of people visit Lion Walk from November 24 to do their bit to support Help for Heroes.”

Marianne West, Essex co-ordinator for Help for Heroes, added: “We hope people will flock to our shop at Lion Walk shopping centre to support Help for Heroes and find everything needed for their Christmas shopping.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support in raising what has been a wonderful amount of money for this fantastic charity.”

Funds raised from the shop’s sales will go towards building a Personnel Recovery Centre in Berechurch Road, Colchester, set to be completed in late 2011.