A CHARITY bookshop has closed its doors after 25 years.

But Books for Amnesty Malvern is set to open a new premises in town in the coming weeks.

The popular bookshop, which raises funds for Amnesty International, is moving out of its home in Edith Walk.

It occupied the Victorian building from its opening in September 1998 to last Saturday (September 30), when it closed its doors for the final time.

The shop is relocating to Church Walk and volunteers hope to be open in time for Christmas.

Jan Dyer, who has volunteered at the shop since 1999, said: “We have a 27-strong team and we’re one of the only Amnesty bookshops without a paid manager.

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“We work very well together and we’ve had groups of people going up every day to pack up the books.

“We’re very well known in the area, and actually people come from quite a wide area to visit us because we have such an eclectic selection of books - and all of them are donations.

“The shop was opened by Jenny Morgan and her son Owen in 1998 and it was a success from the get-go.

“In the early days we would knock on doors for donations and we have built up a reputation over the years.”

Jan described the Edith Walk shop, which was once a jewellers, as “quite small, a quirky premises” and has happy memories of volunteers selling Italian ice cream as well as books.

“That went a while ago and we have a much more professional look now,” she said.

Malvern Gazette: The bookshop held a sale before its closureThe bookshop held a sale before its closure (Image: Books for Amnesty)

“We have lots of plans for the new shop. We’re going to have Gift Aid, a computerised till, and we’re hoping to have a celebration later in the year - not just of the move but for 25 years.”

The bookshop held sales throughout September, with books costing no more than 50p in the shop’s final few days.

Any books not sold are being donated to a company that sells and recycles books.

“When the new shop opens it will be with completely new stock from London, and people have already left their names and addresses wanted to donate books to us.”