CLACKS support group Home Start has started a new chapter in its history, after opening its own charity shop in Alloa's Shillinghill.

The ribbon was cut and the doors officially opened at a ceremony on Friday, November 16, with a crowd gathered outside for the event.

Shelley Bowman, Home Start's operations manager, said she was "absolutely delighted" with the shop.

She told the Advertiser: "This is a brand new venture for us, so it is a pilot.

"It's taken a while to get here, but we're here, we'll settle in and just see how it goes.

"We're absolutely thrilled and it's a great response from locals turning out today.

"This is the result of a lot of work over the past few months."

The shop is a big new project for the organisation, which has been helping Wee County families with young children deal with the challenges they face for 30 years.

The group's volunteers support parents as they learn to cope, build their confidence, and create better lives for their children.

And Shelley believes the shop will help with that ongoing work.

She added: "The aim of the charity shop is to generate some funds for Home Start, and to give a work experience programme to Home Start parents and anyone else in the community who wants it."

The group are also working to try and ensure those who do volunteer at the shop are given some form of official qualification in recognition of their work.

The shop will be open every week, Wednesday to Saturday, from 10am until 4pm.