A north-east charity is hoping to add some glamour to its shop window, with the help of celebrity vocal coach Yvie Burnett.
As well as currently coaching contestants on The Voice, the Methlick mezzo-soprano writes a column for the Press and Journal’s YL magazine.
On Saturday, she announced she would be clearing out some of the evening dresses she has stored in her loft, and offered them to charity.
Now Far and Wide, a charity based in Stonehaven, is hoping they will be lucky enough to land a couple of the dresses.
The charity, run by volunteers from all of the town’s churches and part-time manager Barbara McLean, raised more than £54,000 last year, which was donated to causes such as the local Boys Brigade, Scottish Christian Aid, and the Aberdeen Fishermen’s Mission.
Volunteer Kathleen Smith saw Ms Burnett’s column and wasted no time in getting in touch.
She said: “I was just flicking through the magazine when I saw the column, so immediately sent an e-mail asking for her dresses. I didn’t even check with Barbara, I didn’t want us to miss out.
“I think they’d really generate some interest, and it might bring some different people into the shop as well.
“Yvie sent me an e-mail back saying a few people had been in touch and that’d she speak to us soon, so I hope we get some of her dresses.”
And the volunteers are already planning what to do if they receive any of Ms Burnett’s dresses.
Mrs Smith said: “We have three female models, so we could make a really nice window display, or we might have a small fashion show in the church hall where people can see the dresses modelled and then hopefully buy them.
“The money raised from the dresses would certainly be put to good use.”
Last night Ms Burnett said she was delighted at the interest, with at least one other charity also getting in touch.
She said: “I’ve still got to go through the box of evening dresses, but there are definitely a few. They aren’t by fancy designers but they have been worn for concerts and singing, so they are a bit more glitzy than an average evening dress. There’s a few sparkly numbers.
“Last year I donated a box of stuff to Cancer Research in Glasgow for their new flagship store, and they said people snapped it up because it was a bit more interesting than something your neighbour would hand in.”