A CHARITY shop has been given a boost after staff managed to sell a rare set of furniture for a whopping £2,000.

The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity shop, in Barkingside High Street, was given the bed, chest of drawers and two side tables by a mystery benefactor following a clear-out of his mansion.

And staff were delighted when one customer walked into the shop last Thursday (July 2) and splashed out on the rare Louis Philippe set.

Maria Vas, who works at the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity shop in High Street, Barkingside, said staff had been overjoyed by the sale - a record amount for the charity.

She said: "We are absolutely delighted with this sale and it has been a great morale boost for everyone who volunteers in the shop. All the shop volunteers have been really pleased and excited about it.”

Charity manager Nicola Douglas said: “It’s great to be able to say our shops have sold a collection of furniture for £2000.

"It’s a dream sale and we would like to thank both the person who donated it and the person who bought it for helping make such a difference to the charity – the money from the sale will go towards funding the charity’s services.

“Thanks also to members of our retail team for delivering the furniture in the pouring rain and spending three and a half hours extra helping the customer set up their new furniture- their commitment to the job is commendable.”

A spokeswoman for the charity said the money was sorely need.

She said: "£2,000 could buy nine courses of counselling for cancer patients at cancer support centres in North Middlesex University Hospital, Edmonton, London, or fund the running costs for one week at the charity’s research laboratory in Essex, which is investigating breast cancer."

Nevertheless, despite the sale, the Barkingside branch is still in great need of donations to help it continue its good work.

For more information on how to donate call 07723 382 581.