COLLEGE students have helped to bring a new lease of life to charity shop waste garments while raising funds for a hospice.

Blackburn College students researched popular fashion and came up with a range of 34 new clothing items which are now on sale at the East Lancashire Hospice shop in Bridge Street, Darwen.

Since going on sale the clothes have proved to be very popular with most of the items being sold in the first few days.

As part of the project, the students also had the chance to dress two of the shop's windows, with photography students from the college capturing images of the students modelling the clothes on window banners.

Course Leader in Textiles and Fashion, Danielle Slinger said: “When we were approached about the opportunity to get involved with this project with East Lancashire Hospice’s Darwen shop we were thrilled.”

Hospice Income Generation Director, Sharon Crymble, added: "Buying clothes in this way is helping in so many ways; it’s helping the environment by reducing landfill, often created from fast fashion, raising money from unwanted items for a cause close to many people’s hearts and also showing the individuality of pieces, you wouldn’t find a replica of in a high street store – each one is unique.”