DOWNTON Abbey star Hugh Bonneville will open the new premises of the Furniture Helpline in Bordon at 10am tomorrow.

The opening, at Hampshire House in Hampshire Road, will mark another step forward in the success of this charity, which helps poor and homeless people to buy second-hand appliances, furniture and other household goods at low prices or free of charge.

After the ceremony, there will be an open day, until midday, so residents can look around the new premises and learn about the services on offer .

Furniture Helpline was set up as a charity in 1994 and, at the time, operated in the Bordon, Headley and Liphook areas of East Hampshire.

The charity has now extended its work into Havant and Waverley, and provides a bulky-waste-removal service in Guildford, recovering as many items as possible for reuse.

The Furniture Helpline has three full-time and four part-time staff members and, over the past year, has had 14 volunteers and work-placement helpers.

Furniture Helpline raises most of its income through the sale of furniture and white goods, donations made for collections and the bulky-waste service. It is also supported by an annual grant from East Hampshire District Council and works closely with charities like the Bordon Liphook Haslemere Charity, providing starter packs to families in crisis.

Last November, the charity relocated to Hampshire House, formerly the Garrison Police Station, enabling it to launch two new initiatives - the FareShare food scheme and a county council-funded furniture repair workshop.

The RVS Whitehill Lunch Club will provide refreshments.