A BRIDE-TO-BE is putting the finishing touches to the dream wedding reception she has created from charity shop bargains.

Vicky Osborne has become a familiar face at St Peter’s Hospice in Chipping Sodbury during her search for traditional tea sets and centrepiece cake stands.

Vicky, a project manager for O2 based in Yate, has bought more crockery than she actually needs but has saved a fortune ahead of her marriage to Adam Rowe, from Bristol, in August.

She said: "I wanted to do something quirky and fancied having an afternoon tea. I have been looking for antique tea sets and cake stands, as I am putting the stands together and filling them with cakes to make the centrepieces for each table."

Vicky, who has become an approved supplier for wedding website Green Union since planning her nuptials, said buying decorations from the hospice has been a very special part of her preparations.

"My grandad and grandma both died of cancer so I am always keen to support St Peter’s Hospice as I know how important it is to have a local service who can help the whole family deal with illness and bereavement," she said.

"I’m really enjoying collecting china and cake stands for my wedding and it’s an added bonus that I am supporting such a good cause.

"The staff have been so helpful and have even kept items aside and phoned me to let me know they are in."

Vicky, who gets married in Treowen in Wales, has signed up to the hospice’s new Gift Aid scheme, which could potentially raise an extra £250,000 for the charity in its first year.

The initiative will enable the shops to raise an extra 28p on every £1 taken at the tills at no extra cost to customers.

Julie Trinder, manager of both shops in Chipping Sodbury, said: "Our shops have been promoting the Gift Aid scheme for the past two weeks and so far over 3,000 people have signed up across the region.

"It costs £5.3 million every year to provide our specialist palliative care and there will be people all over the area who will know someone who may have been cared for by St Peter’s Hospice.

"By signing up to the Gift Aid scheme in our shops they could help us raise much needed funds to go directly towards patient care."