STAFF and volunteers at the Oxfam shop in Cowley Road are looking forward to reopening today following a major refurbishment.

The shop has been closed for the past 11 months and has been given a makeover and redesign inside.

Shop manager Nikolitsa Kolokitha said she was delighted that the Cowley-based charity's shop would now be able to serve the community again in Cowley Road.

She added: "We have expanded our shop floor so we can fit more stock in and we have been saving up our stock for the reopening.

"The walls have all been freshly painted and there are new fixtures and fittings and we are now one of the greenest Oxfam shops around with new LED lighting.

"A lot of our volunteers are students and they come and go a lot, so we are desperate for volunteers at the moment - our team is down to about 13 from 30.

"The refurbishment was long overdue and we are delighted to be back open again."

Ms Kolokitha said long-serving volunteer Muriel Hunt, 94, who helps to sort out second-hand shoes, would be at the opening ceremony at 11am with Lord Mayor Rae Humberstone.

For further information on Oxfam visit oxfam.org.uk