STAFF at a Kidderminster charity shop are celebrating after their hard work and the generosity of residents made it the top store nationally.

The Sense shop, in Blackwell Street, beat more than 60 others across the country to achieve the highest annual percentage sales increase, despite being one of the smallest branches.

Shop manager, Linda Hadley, who started working at the store two years ago as a volunteer, said she was "over the moon", adding: "I'm very pleased. It is probably the best thing I've ever done."

The shop, which was opened by the Princess Royal nine years ago, relies on donations and sells a range of clothes, shoes, books and bric-a-brac. Mrs Hadley believed the increase in sales was due to more people donating goods to the store.

Staff also tried to maximise some of the charity's sales by using Sense's online store on auction website, e-bay.

Money raised by the shop helps Sense to offer a range of services to people who are deaf-blind or have associated disabilities.