SHOES by designers such as Prada, Manolo Blahnik and Marc Jacobs have been handed in to a charity shop in Bury St Edmunds.

Brand lovers have the chance to purchase the footwear - and help a good cause at the same time - at the Cancer Research UK shop in Abbeygate Street.

Manager Pauline Driver said a regular donor had given the items last Saturday including about 20 pairs of shoes - many with their boxes - a black Vivienne Westwood dress and a Lulu Guinness handbag.

The donation also included designer shoes by Gucci, Miu Miu and Jimmy Choo, but the Jimmy Choo pair - worth about �400 new - had been sold.

Mrs Driver said: “I have worked here 10 years now and I have never seen any Jimmy Choo, but we do get Prada and Gucci - we have got good donors here - but to have so many of such good quality is exceptional.”

She added: “It’s always very exciting when you get donations like that.”

Mrs Driver said the busy store was one of the charity’s most profitable shops in the region.

Often people came in just expecting to donate, but ended up buying something and then coming back, she said.

She added: “We have got a lot more younger people looking for the labels as they know we get quite a few here.”

The store also had a Christian Dior bracelet, belt and necklace for sale as well as a Burberry handbag.

Mrs Driver recommended Christmas shoppers pop in to bag a designer bargain for an extra special present.