A CHARITY shop in east Hull will definitely close, despite residents' attempts to save it.
Hundreds of people signed a petition against the closure of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) shop in Southcoates Lane.
But the charity says the shop has to close because the building requires "significant work and investment".
Andrew Taylor, who owns the nearby Taylor's newsagents, had the petition in his shop.
"It's a real shame," he said.
"We decided to have a petition in the shop to get a few names and to try to keep the shop open.
"The shop served a dual purpose. Apart from being a shop for the community, it also raised money for sick and injured pets.
"It was a local shop for local people and to see a shop on our high street disappear is really sad."
Residents had argued the store, which is one of the area's oldest retailers, was used by dozens of people every day.
Frank Speak, who lives nearby, said: "Everybody here is very upset because they rely on it.
"When that's gone, it's gone – there's no more shops like it around here. The shop has been here for more than 30 years and the ladies who work there have worked there for nearly as long as it has been open."
PDSA uses the proceeds from their charity shops to fund free care for sick and injured pets owned by low-income families.
A spokesman for the charity said: "We can confirm the PDSA shop on Southcoates Lane will be closing.
"After a thorough assessment, it was determined the building requires significant work and investment to update it.
"In this case, the safety of our staff and volunteers is our priority. We have also had to consider the shop's long-term profitability, the overall suitability of the shop, as well as the condition of the building.
"As a charity, we often have to make difficult decisions to ensure the kind donations we receive, which are raised entirely through public support, are used most effectively.
"We are extremely grateful to all of the volunteers at the shop for their tireless fundraising.
"There has been incredible public support for this shop and our dedicated volunteers and we hope they will continue to support us through other fundraising opportunities in the local area, which we have discussed with them.
"Local animal-lovers who wish to continue to support the charity can do so at the PDSA shop in Holderness Road."
97 years caring for sick and injured animalsMARIA Dickin, founder of PDSA, opened her free dispensary for sick and injured animals in a basement in Whitechapel in November 1917.
During the First World War, Mrs Dickin worked to improve the dreadful state of animal health in the Whitechapel area of London.
She wanted to open a clinic where people living in poverty could receive free treatment for their sick and injured animals.
The dispensary was an immediate success and she was soon forced to find larger premises.
Within six years, Mrs Dickin had designed and equipped her first horse-drawn clinic, and soon established a fleet of mobile dispensaries.
This year marks 97 years of the charity caring for the sick and injured animals of people in need.
• Visit www.pdsa.org.uk for more information.
