Cats Protection’s Mere & Gillingham Branch says its charity shop in Gillingham’s High Street is closing.

The charity says that in a ‘competitive market’ – with many shoppers going online instead of visiting the high street – the shop in Gillingham has seen a recent fall in customers.  As a result, the ‘sad and difficult’ decision has been made to close the store, the charity says.

Nicola Parry, Area Branch Development Manager, said: ‘The Mere & Gillingham Branch will continue to serve the local area to help cats in need.

‘Thank you to everyone in the Gillingham area who has supported the Cats Protection shop with donations and by shopping there – it’s meant we could help many hundreds of cats over the years, and we are so grateful.’

The branch says it is looking for more people who are interested in volunteering in animal welfare.

One of the volunteer roles the branch is recruiting for is a treasurer – they are also looking for volunteer fundraisers.

If you’re interested in volunteering and would like to find out more, please email Nicola Parry at: nicola.parry@cats.org.uk.

If you would like to make a donation to help support the work of Cats Protection’s Mere & Gillingham Branch, you can visit its JustGiving page at:www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mereandgillinghamcatsprotection

You can also donate cat food – which will help feed cats in the branch’s care – at Tesco in Shaftesbury, Morrisons in Wincanton and Sainsbury’s in Sherborne.

To find out more about the work of the branch and see some of the cats available for adoption, you can visit the website at: cats.org.uk/mere.