A CHARITY shop has appealed for more stock after furniture, beds and bric-a-brac were destroyed in floods.

The Homeless Action Resource Project’s shop in London Road, Westcliff, is still assessing how much stock was damaged when the town was deluged by storms and heavy rain two weekends ago.

Volunteers are still clearing up the store and removing flood damaged goods.

Deborah Hall, who is the manager for the Harp shops, in London Road and Hamlet Court Road, said: “We were all devastated to discover four to five inches of water covering the shop floor and the damage to the majority of the stock.

“I could have cried, but everyone pulled together – the staff, volunteers and some of our service users. It really was a major task, but now we are counting the financial cost of not being able to open through loss of stock.”

Most of the charity’s income is through sales at its shops and volunteers are now desperately appealing for furniture, beds and clothing to carry on raising money to support homeless people in Southend.

Harp is also appealing for more volunteers to come forward.

Gary Turner, Harp’s service operations manager, added: “As well as appealing for stock to be donated, we are also looking for volunteer drivers and shop helpers.

“Our shops not only raise vital funds to assist our work with Southend’s homeless, but they are also a training opportunity in many aspects of retail for our volunteers andservice users who are positively moving on with their lives.”

If anyone has items to donate or wants to volunteer, they can call 01702 334544. Harp can collect heavy items within a reasonable distance of Southend.