AN ANIMAL welfare charity shop on Wellington’s High Street is set to reopen on Thursday, June 19, following its temporary closure in April.

The RSPCA South West Somerset store was forced to close temporarily for essential maintenance works to the building.

At the end of April, branch manager Natalie Heed said that the closure was due to staff changeovers and to give the shop a refresh following some ceiling maintenance work. She had explained that the shop would be rehiring in May with the hope of reopening in the next few months.

The High Street RSPCA store is now set to reopen its doors on June 19.

Natalie explained that the interruption has proved a useful opportunity for the charity.

She said: “Retail sales are the main source of sustainable income for RSPCA South West Somerset Branch, and so having to pause trading at our Wellington store was a real challenge.

“However, we have used this break as an opportunity. We have taken the time to think carefully about the needs of our Wellington customers, and we are really excited about the refreshed, refocused retail experience that we will be launching on Thursday.”

The Wellington store is one of four operated by RSPCA South West Somerset Branch, with other shops in Taunton, Bridgwater and Chard, as well as an online clothing store on the Vinted website.

A local and independently registered charity forming part of the wider RSPCA network, the RSPCA South West Somerset Branch is dedicated to supporting animals and their owners in the region.

In the last 12 months, the charity has helped more than a thousand local animals, including providing financial assistance for low-income households to help with the rising cost of veterinary treatment, as well as working with partner charities to support the rehoming of stray and abandoned pets.