THE newest shop to open in wellington town centre has been praised by local MP Rebecca Pow, who performed an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday (November 3).

Ms Pow declared open a Ferne Animal Sanctuary charity shop in Fore Street, which has taken over premises vacated when the Children's Hospice South West moved to High Street.

Environment Minister Ms Pow, a former chairman of a Parliamentary All-Party animal welfare group, said: “As a huge animal lover myself, I was delighted to open this shop in Wellington.

“The work that the charity does is really valuable in terms of looking after sadly abandoned animals and also rehoming many of them.

“I wish them all the best with the new shop.”

The Wellington store was the charity’s seventh to be opened in Somerset and Devon and it is planning to have 20 shops by 2027.

Profits from the shops go directly to support the running of the charity’s sanctuary on the Blackdown Hills and helping to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home animals.

Ferne chief executive Kevan Hodges said it was a ‘significant step forward’ for the charity and its commitment to provide shelter, care, and support for animals in need.

Mr Hodges said trading in the fortnight since the shop opened its doors had been so good that it completely justified the decision to locate to the town.

Store manager Karen Cornelius said customers had been pleased with the diverse range of items on offer, including clothing, accessories, household goods, and books, the sale of which would directly help animals in need.