SHOPPERS are being urged to give while they spend, by buying their Christmas cards in Southwold.

The Cards for Good Causes shop opened at Southwold Tourist Information Centre in the town's high street last month and will be open until Saturday, December 18, selling charity Christmas cards.

Every purchase made in the shop will help good causes, as more than 30 charities are represented including East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), East Anglian Air Ambulance, the National Eczema Society, and The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association – giving customers a wide choice and the chance to support their chosen cause.

The Southwold shop is one of a national network of about 350 temporary outlets which have raised more than �20m for charities over the past five years. Because Cards for Good Causes keeps its operating costs to a minimum, charities receive at least 75p in every �1 from their card sales, from which they have to meet production and distribution costs and any VAT.

Mary Cronin, area organiser for Cards for Good Causes, said: 'Christmas card sales are an important fundraising source for charities, and in buying cards you are making a valuable contribution to their work. Charity cards are a great way to buy once and give twice – once to the person you send the card to and again to your favourite charity.'

l The shop, staffed by local volunteers, is open 10.30am to 3.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; 10.30am to 3pm Wednesdays, and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.