ONE of Trowbridge’s charity shops is set to close - another casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The CLIC Sargent charity shop in Fore Street has been hit by closure during the coronavirus crisis.

Jason Webster, associate director of property and trading at CLIC Sargent, said: “Sadly we are considering the permanent closure of our Trowbridge shop and have begun a consultation with our staff and volunteers.

"We’ve been at the heart of the community in Trowbridge for many years and we’re hugely grateful to all our volunteers, staff and customers whose hard work and support has made such a difference to young cancer patients and their families.

"This isn’t a decision we’d ever have wanted to make and aren’t taking it lightly.

“Unfortunately, the Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has had a devastating impact on CLIC Sargent and our charity shops, leaving us facing difficult decisions and fighting to protect the services we provide.“Safety is our priority and we’re trying to balance following the Government’s social distancing and other guidelines in each shop whilst remaining financially viable in very tough economic times."While a final conclusion on the Trowbridge shop has not yet been made and we are talking to affected staff and volunteers we do not think that it’s sustainable to reopen it.”

Mrs Christine Heale, 68, of Kings Gardens, Hilperton, said she and her husband William, 74, were regular Gift Aid donors to CLIC Sargent.

“It’s shocking. We are very concerned about some of the other charity shops in the town.”

When the lockdown was announced in March, CLIC Sargent closed 26 of its shops across the South West.

The British Heart Foundation, which has shops in Devizes, Trowbridge, Warminster, is due to reopen from mid-June in a phased return to normal trading.