Macclesfield's MP is urging residents to support a charity Christmas gift shop in its final year.

The Combined Charities Christmas Card Shop opened at Macclesfield Library on Saturday, October 31.

Tim Roca joined organiser Sheila Hallas MBE and volunteers to celebrate the initiative, which has raised nearly £6.5 million for charities since Sheila it launched in 1971.

Mr Roca said: "It was a pleasure to join Sheila and the volunteers to open this year's Christmas card shop at Macclesfield Library.

"Raising nearly £6.5 million for charity is an extraordinary achievement and reflects decades of dedication and generosity.

"I want to thank Sheila, Anthea Wilkinson, who kindly invited me, and everyone who has given their time to make this initiative such a success.

"With this being the shops' final year, I would encourage everyone to pop into Macclesfield Library, buy their Christmas cards and help give this wonderful fundraising effort a fitting send off. Every card purchased supports the charities taking part."

The shop sells charity Christmas cards, with 100% of card sales going directly to the charities.

Volunteers give their time to run the shop, while sales of gifts, toys and decorations cover its overheads.

This will be the final festive season for the Combined Charities Christmas Card Shops, which have operated in libraries across Cheshire for more than five decades.

Volunteer, Anthea Wilkinson, said: "It was a great pleasure to meet Tim on Saturday, and his support for the Combined Charity Card Shops is greatly appreciated.

"One of our main sources of pride is that every charity that works with us receives 100% of the value of the cards they sell, made possible by all the work being undertaken by unpaid volunteers.

"All the inevitable costs, such as venue hire, insurance and publicity, are covered by the sale of Christmas goods and stocking fillers.

"We have also been happy to support small local charities as well as the well-known nationals.

"The decision to make this the final year was a hard one to make, but I am sure it is the right one, and we just hope that people will generously support us this one final time."