THE sudden closure of the charity shop in Lord Street West came as a bitter blow to charities and the people of Blackburn and surrounding area who relied on it.

Our charity, East Lancashire Animal Welfare, would not have made it though last winter had it not been for the funds we raised at the shop over the Christmas/New Year period. The future without this valuable fundraising resource will be bleak, not only for our charity, but for many more small local charities who depend on it.

We were the last charity to raise funds in the shop and had the unfortunate task of having to break the news to customers and people bringing donated goods, all of who were shocked to say the least.

The public need this shop - young people, pensioners and families on limited incomes cannot afford to buy clothes from retailers in the shopping centre or from the permanent charity shops whose prices are higher than the shop at Lord Street West.

Also, the shop is easily accessible to all, being so near the centre of the town. The council have been happy to take rent monies from charities for more than 30 years now and have spent a minimal amount on the premises. It is now time that they did so - the health and safety issues they cite can easily be addressed and the shop reopened.

This should be done as a matter of urgency since with each week that passes, more charities lose a major part of their income. People of Blackburn have your say.

CAROL DUGGAN, Trustee of East Lancashire Animal Welfare, Cardigan Avenue, Oswaldtwistle.