A BOLTON charity which helps families and their pets escape domestic violence has set up a Christmas “pop up” shop to raise much-needed funds.

Crompton Place Shopping Centre in Bolton town centre declared Paws For Kids as its official charity earlier this year and has worked closely with the group to offer support with fundraising and raising awareness of the vital work they do.

In the run up to Christmas, the shopping centre has given Paws for Kids a unit to use for free, which it has kitted out with a host of festive goodies and gift ideas with all money raised going to the charity.

The store is now trading every day from 10 am to 4pm, apart from Sundays, up to and including Saturday, December 21, and the team running the shop are happy to receive donations.

Crompton Place manager Malcolm Angus said: “I was touched to learn that one of the barriers to mothers finding a way to escape an aggressive husband or partner is that they are often frightened to leave a much-loved family pet in the household, which is causing them and their children so much misery.”

“By offering the charity a unit to trade from in the busy Christmas period, which we know our generous shoppers will support, we hope they will be able to enjoy a bumper injection of cash to their coffers.”

The shop will also serve as an exhibition space for a display of masks created by 15 women’s groups across Bolton as part of the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign.

The exhibition will be officially opened today by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Colin Shaw, and will be followed up with other activities to mark the 16 Days of Activism which have been supported by Bolton Council and Bolton at Home.

Carole Marsden, project manager for Paws For Kids, said: “We rely heavily on the generosity of the local community and individuals who donate what they can to help people and their beloved pets build a brighter future. We are really thankful to Crompton Place for allowing us to have this Christmas pop-up shop and not only will it help us to raise money but it will also raise awareness of the help available in Bolton for families experiencing domestic violence.”

For more information about Paws for Kids, go to pawsforkids.org.uk.

To make donations of goods to sell to the shop, call 01204 394842.