A CHURCH is stepping up its campaign to raise £500,000 by opening its own shop.

St Mary’s Church, known as Deane Church, is fundraising to create a new community hall for the area.

More than £100,000 has been raised in less than three months, through donations and events.

Now the church, in Junction Road, is opening a shop to raise more money to reach its target.

Deane Charity Shop will open at 292 Wigan Road on Monday, selling a range of items including clothes, books, toys and bric-a-brac.

The aim is to demolish the current memorial hall in Junction Road and replace it with a new, purpose-built building with several rooms, a kitchen and other facilities.

It is hoped the new community hall can be used for church activities as well as community events such a playgroup, a toddler group and Age Concern lunch clubs.

The church also wants to hire out rooms for meetings and functions and maybe have a cafe there in the future.

Deane Charity Shop will open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am until 4pm. It will also open on Saturdays from 10am until 1pm.