IT may only be October, but a little bit of Christmas came early when Jeremy Hunt MP for Haslemere officially opened the Cards for Good Causes “pop up” shop at Haslemere Museum.

The shop stocks cards from more than 25 national charities as well as local charities including GUTS, Phyllis Tuckwell, The Fountain Centre, Canine Partners, Winston’s Wish, CAB Waverley and Shooting Star Chase.

Mr Hunt praised the valuable contribution made by the shop volunteers to so many worthy charities and the Secretary of State for Health noted how many support people living with a wide range of medical conditions.

Shop manager Maggie Monteath said: “Our seasonal shops are a great way to prepare for Christmas while at the same time providing an important source of funding for charities.

“In keeping with the Christmas spirit, sending charity Christmas cards allows you to give twice, once to friends and family, and again to worthwhile causes of your choice.”

Cards for Good Causes is the UK’s largest multi-charity Christmas card organisation and the shops are part of a national network of more than 300 shops, selling cards for around 275 charities and staffed by more than 6,000 volunteers.

In the past five years, charities have received more than £20million from Cards for Good Causes – representing at least 70p in every pound from card sales, out of which charities have to pay for the production and distribution of their Christmas cards and any VAT.

Haslemere’s Cards for Good Causes shop is open Monday-Saturday between 10am and 4.30pm until Tuesday, December 15 and also during the town’s Christmas Market on Sunday, December 6.

Follow the Cards for Good Causes’ red Santa sign down the High Street to the museum.