A YORK hospice is lending its support to a campaign aimed at improving the quality of goods donated to charity shops in the city.

Monday will see City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council launching their Choose2Reuse campaign in Parliament Street, with a Green Santa encouraging people to bring him unwanted Christmas gifts which will then be distributed to organisations taking part in the scheme.

St Leonard's Hospice, in Tadcaster Road, is issuing Choose2Reuse pledge cards at the launch and to customers in its shops in Acomb, Burton Stone Lane, Haxby, Tang Hall, Scarcroft Road and Pocklington, with a circle on the cards being initialled every time they buy something or donate an item to the campaign. Once all three circles are initialled, the customer will receive a free reusable bag and get ten per cent off their next purchase at the shops.

Choose2Reuse also hoping to attract more volunteers, and anybody who signs up will also get a free bag.

"We're really pleased the councils have got together to help promote the concept of recycling and donating good-quality items to charity," said hospice retail manager Helen Moreton.

"We've been working hard to encourage people to give us goods to sell and raise funds for our work in caring for local people, and through this campaign we look forward to welcoming lots of new customers, donors and volunteers."