A NEARLY new charity shop in Ringwood has been forced to close.

Teds offered customers a one-stop-shop selling baby and children’s toys and equipment to raise funds for Julia’s House as well as a host of other local charities.

The social enterprise was founded by Ringwood mums Dana Elsworth and Liz Wells and they had been allowed to rent the dilapidated Old Auction House on Southampton Road.

But the pair were giving their marching orders at the beginning of October.

Dana said: “It is very disappointing but we will be back and we will be better than ever.”

They have spent the last month packing all 14,000-plus items into storage while they await a decision from New Forest District Council on their planning application for a unit on Carvers industrial estate in Ringwood.

The application is for change of use to transform the nine-room offices and warehouse area into a sales room, stock room, meeting room, and a small soft play area.

Dana said: “Our plight is in the hands of the planners.

“It’s just a waiting game.

“If we have a yes from the planners, then we can crack on with cleaning, painting, hosing down and sort out the new unit,” she added.

This year Teds has given toy donations to Poole Hospital, St Ives First School and Poulner Junior School, Bethlehem Blind School as well as to Christchurch Rotary.

Donations have also been made to children’s centres in Latvia and Uganda.

To find out more about the shop and what they do visit toys4charity.org.