ARMY ON THE MARCH: A

charity shop received more than 250 visitors in its first day of trade.

The Salvation Army Trading Company shop, in the Exchange Shopping Centre, Longton, opened its doors yesterday.

Area manager Jane Sergeant said: "The children's section was swarmed and I was almost climbing over buggies to replenish the stock, the shoe section also did really well."

The Salvation Army will also open a store in High Street, Newcastle, tomorrow.

A Leek branch in Smithfield Shopping Centre, opens on Thursday, February 11 and a Hanley shop, in Stafford Street, is to open at the end of the month.

The Longton shop is appealing for in-store donations of clothing, bric-a-brac, books, toys, CDs, DVDs and videos.

It is also promoting its re:bag scheme. The shops offer for sale a "bag for life" for 99p. The deal is that the customer returns the bag full of donated clothing for which they are rewarded with a £2 voucher to spend in-store.

Pictured are assistant manager Marilyn Wilson, left, and manager Tracey White.

Picture: Phil Radcliffe