CASH and a range of practical presents have been showered on a centre for the over-65s since its was adopted by department store staff.

Bluewater’s John Lewis store chose the Upton Centre, which provides mental health services for older people, as its good cause this year.

The centre, in Upton Road, Bexleyheath, was picked after store worker Wendy O’Sullivan recommended it for the help the centre had given her late mother-in-law.

Alice O’Sullivan, who died in March, suffered from dementia and towards the end of her life needed 24-hour care from Oxleas NHS Trust which runs the centre.

As well as an initial £100 cash, Upton has now received another £500.

The store has also donated boxed games, mugs and Wii games which have been shared with the centre’s in-patient wards at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup.

Staff from the store visited Upton and spent a day staining garden furniture, and renovating the garden with new planting.