THE grand opening of a charity’s new high street store took place at the weekend, with its two older stores still for sale.

Farleigh Hospice has moved its location in Maldon to further up the high street, with a new store now operating opposite All Saints Church following its grand opening on Saturday morning.

The charity provides hospice care to people affected by life-limiting illnesses across mid Essex. It was established in 1982 in Chelmsford, growing from a single base to expand across the region with increased care services.

The charity’s old high street store, along with its previous hospice location in the Bentalls Complex in Heybridge which closed in December, are up for sale to raise funds for a replacement day centre for the district.

The opening of the new store saw staff, volunteers and senior representatives from Farleigh Hospice joined by Maldon mayor Jeanette Stilts for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Farleigh Hospice ran a day service at their previous Heybridge centre which offered patients support, assessment and nursing care and creative activities such as arts and crafts.

They had already been looking for new premises due to the repair works needed and a lack of space at the centre.

More than six months down the line however, no alternative sites have been found in the district.

The Maldon district has been without a day care centre for those with life-limiting illnesses since December.

The Bentalls Complex building has been listed for sale with estate agents Fenn Wright, which is also selling the High Street store, with a guide price of £420,000. The Bentalls Complex is listed at a guide price of £250,000. Visit www.farleighhospice.org.