Staff, volunteers and local dignitaries squeezed into Watford’s newest charity shop this morning to celebrate its official opening.

Home Start Watford and Three Rivers believes the new venture, in Lord Street, will both increase income and, crucially, increase its profile in the community.

The shop, conveniently located directly below the organisation’s offices, was an empty shell as recently as Monday, before a frenzy of cleaning, painting and drilling from a small army of volunteers gave it a new lease of life.

Manager Vivienne Davies explained how the business would assist the charity to fund its volunteer work with young families, helping them overcome both simple and serious problems.

Speaking amidst a scrum of invited guests, including Watford FC legend Ian Bolton, she said said: “At the moment we have a waiting list for our services so we do need more money. We need £150,000 every year to keep going so this will help us fund more staff and volunteers and help us to help even more families.”

Home Start is a national charity offering services to families with children under five. Its Watford shop is only its second in the UK.

Co-ordinator Valery George explained why that was so fitting.

She said: “Margaret Harrison, who founded the charity in 1973, went to Watford Girls’ Grammar School. She is a wonderful woman and I think she would be very proud of this.

“Everybody has worked so hard this week to get things ready in time for today and the finished shop looks wonderful.”

Watford Borough Councillor Tony Poole added: “We are very fortunate to have a group like this helping families in our area. This project demonstrates their great enterprise.

Three Rivers District Councillor and Home Start trustee Kemal Butt added: “Today has been a wonderful success and for us. The volunteers have done a superb job and the end result looks fantastic.”