A community has welcomed a charity shop into its new home in a neighbourhood shopping precinct.

The Anton Day Smile Foundation has moved to Wildridings Square and more than 25 people helped owners Tony and Vanessa Day open the shop on Monday.

The charity, which is run by the couple in memory of their son Anton who died from leukaemia aged 24 in 2008, operated from premises in Moss End in Warfield but had to move out.

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But Tony and Vanessa, with the help of Bracknell Forest Council, were able to find a shop in the popular neighbourhood shopping centre after pet shop Paws closed.

Tony said: “Being kicked out wasn’t very nice but after the turmoil of that we’ve come through and, with the kind help of the council, we’ve got a new shop.

“We were looking for a shop but we kept being outbid when they became available.

“Bracknell Forest Council has been very helpful and then it came up that the people who run Paws were leaving.

“The council gave them a list of people who were looking for shops and we know Lisa who ran the shop, so when she saw the charity on the list she phoned me directly and it’s gone from there.”

The shop was formally opened by Bracknell Town Council Mayor Councillor Graham Ellis and Cllr Denise Whitbrebad.

Charity in memory of Anton Day launched

The charity was set up with the aim of raising £50,000 to build a memorial garden for the former Garth Hill pupil at the Oxford Cancer Care Unit at Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Tony and Vanessa have already raised £35,000 and hope the new shop will help  them achieve the rest.

Tony added: “Because of everything that happened it’s meant the charity has been on hold for a while.

“But now we’re going all guns blazing, with the charity shop up and running we should be able to reach our target soon.”