A CHARITY shop in Keighley will celebrate its fifth anniversary tomorrow. (Dec 1)

Yorkshire Cat Rescue's store, in Cavendish Street, first opened its doors in December 2012.

Since then the money it has raised has played an important part in helping the charity contend with a 60 per cent rise in the number of abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens it takes in.

Since the Keighley town centre shop was launched, the Cross Roads-based charity has opened a second shop in Halifax and is shortly due to open its third shop in Brighouse.

Kathy Maxwell, area manager for Yorkshire Cat Rescue, said it was important for the group to have such a visible, accessible presence in Keighley.

"Our team who run the shop are brilliant, they work so hard," she added.

"Helen Wilkinson, who has been managing the shop for at least three and a half years, has made some great improvements.

"We sell all sorts of things there, from electrical items to books, toys, bric-a-brac, clothes and kitchenware.

"We're well supported with donated items for the shop. We are grateful for what people give to us, as we rely entirely on donations to keep the shop stocked.

"And we're always happy to welcome new volunteers."

Mrs Maxwell said the shop would be putting up balloons and banners to mark its fifth birthday.