A NEW initiative, designed to ensure greater security for shoppers from thieves at the same time as raising money for charity, has been introduced at an Abergavenny high street shop.

Ladies' value fashion retailer Bonmarche is offering customers the chance to purchase so-called purse bells, with the aim of warding off any potential opportunistic thieves.

The hope is that bells attached to purses would draw attention to any attempt to steal it.

Liz Jones, of Bonmarche's Abergavenny branch, said that using purse bells has been proven to be an effective means of reducing purse theft.

Bells are available at all Bonmarche shops in south Wales at a cost of £1 each. All proceeds go to the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.