SHOPPERS have been left gutted after a major charity with 750 stores pulled down the shutters on one of its branches.
British Heart Foundation welcomed customers into its shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk, for the final time on Saturday, June 1.
The charity said the branch closed after its lease came to an end.
Gary Purser, British Heart Foundation area manager, added: "We would like to thank our wonderful staff and volunteers for all their support over the years, some of which will be moving to other stores nearby.
“We’d also like to say a big thank you to our loyal and lovely customers in Lowestoft.
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"They can still support the British Heart Foundation and visit our Great Yarmouth and Norwich stores, or shop online on our BHF eBay store."
Shoppers have shared their dismay and sadness after finding out the branch, rated 'outstanding' on Google Reviews, has shut for good.
One said: "Deeply concerning when charity shops are even closing on the high street."
Another echoed the sentiment, adding: "Things are really bad when even charity shops are closing down."
A third commented: "Another empty shop at that end of town."
And a fourth said: "If it wasn't for shops like this then research into heart problems etc could not be done.
"I personally (am) grateful for this shop and all they done."
The news follows a swathe of charity shop closures in recent months in a blow for the high street.
Oxfam pulled down the shutters of its branch in Telford, Wellington, just last month.
The chain, which runs around 500 UK shops, said it had decided to shut the store as it was not "viable".
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Since June last year, Oxfam has closed eight stores across the UK including in Alfreton, Worthing and Grimsby.
The Salvation Army has also been forced to close a store in Bourne and another in Cornerswell Road, Penarth, while Cancer Research UK shut a branch earlier this year.
What else is happening on the high street?
The high street has been hit hard in recent years as shoppers turn to online retail, a trend made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Businesses have also had to cough up more on energy, wages and business rates.
It has seen some shops forced to close permanently in a blow for customers.
Some major retailers have fallen into administration, including Ted Baker, Wilko and The Body Shop, seeing hundreds of shops close and thousands of workers lose their jobs.
It's not all bad news for the sector though, as some chains have been expanding on the high street and in retail parks.
Poundland, Lidl and Aldi have all been opening branches across the UK, as shoppers turn to more budget-friendly options.
Aldi said it wants to open hundreds more stores in the coming years, setting its sights on operating 1,500.
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug recently said it wants to open 25 new branches across the UK.
Asda has been opening hundreds of convenience stores in recent months as it looks to rival major players Tesco and Sainsbury's.
B&M plans to open "not less than" 45 brand new stores across the UK in each of the next two consecutive years.
And the British Heart Foundation opened a giant new store in south Bristol in April, reported Bristol World.
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