A BENFLEET charity shop paid its respects for our war heroes with a dedicated shop window display.

Sue Ryder charity shop, in High Road, Benfleet, received a number of donations throughout the year which shop manager Debbie Verlander thought would be a good idea to hold onto until Armistice Day.

Debbie, 56, from Benfleet, said: "Donations of World War items came in from all over Benfleet over the course of the year and I put them in the back room to save for Remembrance Day.

"We had loads of army stuff - boots, black leather gloves and black and white pictures.

"The cadets march past the shop from the church, right the way up from the High Road, so I thought that making a feature of the window would be something nice to do.

The neighbouring charity shop, Unicef, has also been decorated with poppies and other items in memory of the country's ex-servicemen.

Debbie, added: "There is a real sense of unity amongst the different charity shops.

"Rather than competition, which is always good competition anyway, but Remembrance Sunday has brought us all together for what is a really special time.

"We will also be doing late night openings in the run up to Christmas for Christmas shopping."