Ref. 26036-02CLIVE Mantle - better known as Dr Mike Barratt from the BBC series Holby City - dropped into Wootton Bassett to open a new Marie Curie Cancer Care shop on the High Street.

The charity, which provides nursing care for people with cancer at no charge, enlisted the help of the screen doctor to encourage people to donate items to the shop, and also to volunteer help.

Mr Mantle, who lives in Box, near Bath, said: "I recently went on a trek to the Himalayas and when I came back I gave away half of the clothes to charity, simply because I didn't need them. If most people look through their wardrobes, they find they only use half their clothes anyway, so why not give them to charity?"

He continued by underlining the work of the charity's nurses.

He said: "The nurses are the unsung heroes of the community, and bring happiness and smiles to people at the most desperate time in their lives."

Swindon area retail manager John Canessa said: "He is a big and local celebrity, and his presence here has had a huge positive effect for us. He really puts the shop on the map in a way that we would not have achieved otherwise."

Anyone interested in volunteering to help out in the shop should call 01793 848542, or call in at 48 High Street.