A charity shop is to close after a lack of business and rising costs have left it unable to go on.
The Salvation Army shop and cafe in Head Street, Colchester, will close next month after more than six years in the town.
The shop and cafe were once a thriving business and despite a recent upturn in fortunes, a three-year period of losses have led to charity chiefs deciding it is no longer financially viable.
The move will mean two paid staff will lose their jobs and a team of 11 volunteer workers will be left without a cause to help.
Shop manager Martika McNamara said: "It is not viable to stay open, we don't take enough for the overheads we have to pay.
"Some customers have been quite upset because it is a local meeting place for a lot of people but at the end of the day if you can't afford to stay open then you have no other choice."
People in need of clothes, bedding or furniture are frequently referred to the shop by workers at the Butt Road Salvation Army Hall.
This service however, is set to continue from the Butt Road hall which will take on stock from the Head Street shop and deal with giving it to people in need
Published Friday, February 7, 2003
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