A new charity shop hopes to offer a “route back into society” for homeless people.

Emmaus, in High Street, Barnet, held its official opening on Saturday, September 20.

The charity gives homeless people a place to live and gets them back into work through selling second hand furniture and household goods in its shops.

People spilled out onto the pavement while the cake was cut by Terry Waite, who became president of Emmaus in 1992, shortly after being released as a hostage in Lebanon.

Project manager Carol Moeke, who lives in High Barnet, said: “It went very well, it was really well attended. The shop was full, and people ended up spilling out onto the street outside. There were a lot of people from the area”

Barnet Borough Council leader Councillor Richard Cornelius also attended the opening.

“It’s had a lot of interest, and people are really pleased to see the shop in the high street. It’s made a big difference, and provides a good service.”

The shop is the first in a series of five planned for the next couple of years.

Mrs Moeke, whose husband Paul is also a project manager, said: “The whole point is to help people who are homeless. Profits will go towards sustaining a community of up to 30 previously homeless people.

“It offers a route to homeless people to get back into society.”