A charity hoping to open a new multi-million pound hospice in Norfolk in 2013 opened a furniture warehouse on the edge of King's Lynn yesterday.

The Norfolk Hospice hopes its latest outlet on the North Lynn Industrial Estate will further boost funds to help run a new full-service hospice in Hillington, near King's Lynn.

The warehouse will also act as a distribution centre, creating a central hub for volunteers to sort through donated goods and free up retail space in its seven charity shops.

West Norfolk mayor Colin Sampson officially opened the warehouse yesterday afternoon in front of a small group of invited guests.

Speaking after the ribbon cutting, chief executive Richard Shaw said: 'This warehouse is really needed as it will give us the chance to bring the furniture and other goods here, sort them out and distribute them to our other shops. All our shops have an area to sort donations but this warehouse is going to help create more space in shops for retail which will help bring in more funds.

'It also gives us the opportunity to order things in bulk to save money.

'People can also come here to view the furniture too.'

The Norfolk Hospice currently supports more than 280 people every month at its current hospice in Snettisham and has the support of 250 volunteers as well as paid staff.

But the charity is hoping to move to a new �4m full-service hospice, which will provide 12 in-patient beds, next year. Work at the site started in August last year. The charity's yearly running costs stand at �1.4m, but these will rise to �3.4m once the new hospice is operational in 2013.

Mayor Colin Sampson, whose nominated charity is the Norfolk Hospice, said: 'The borough is right behind this charity. Whenever I speak to people about the Norfolk Hospice, the reaction is always positive.'