Stage and screen actress Helen Fraser travelled to Bungay yesterday to officially open a new East Anglia's Children's Hospices shop.

Joined by her pug Susie, volunteers and supporters watched as the Bad Girls star cut the ribbon and welcomed shoppers into the store.

Based in Market Place, the opening marks the charity's 21st shop, raising vital funds to support families and care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Ms Fraser is an EACH ambassador, and regularly attends and hosts events to raise awareness and funds. She said: 'It all started when I was on a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with Bad Girls against The Bill and we won £16,000 to be split between eight of us.

'They asked me what charity I wanted to donate it to and my mind went blank. And then I saw Graham, the EACH chief executive, in the audience and I've been supporting them ever since. 'They help so many people and their hospices are such special places.'

Chief executive Graham Butland said: 'Our shops are a valuable source of income and we are entirely dependent on people bringing in good quality donations.

'They are also a way for us to tell people about EACH and the work we do at our three hospices in Quidenham, Ipswich and Cambridge and also in people's own homes.

'They make us part of the community and here we have brought back to life a building which has stood empty for a while.'

Donations are always welcome and to find out about volunteering call Roslyn Fry on 01986 896092.