- Author, Martin Heath
- Role, BBC News, Northamptonshire
A new animal charity shop and welfare hub said it has had more than 400 visitors on its first day.
The RSPCA store in Daventry, Northamptonshire, will offer advice and education as well as second hand items
A long queue formed outside the building early in the morning.
The manager described the town’s response as “phenomenal”.
The RSPCA moved into an old shoe shop in the town centre earlier this year and has had items on display in the windows for several weeks.
As it opened its doors for the first time, local people were already queuing.
Lynne Wayland, the retail operations manager, said: “It was phenomenal, very very busy.
“We had our first queue at nine o’clock this morning – a lady actually brought a cushion to sit on, so she made sure she was first in the queue, and, by another half-an-hour, the queue was right down the road.
“The people of Daventry love a good charity shop.”
Buying items may be the last thing on the minds of some of people who visit the shop, because it also has an education and welfare hub.
Dawn Smith, the welfare operations manager, said: “We need to educate and improve the way people look after animals and we’re here to have that bridge so we can prevent issues in the future.”
The hub will initially operate every Wednesday and Ms Smith is planning to organise educational events and visits to schools.
Ms Smith said the Rushden service has “welfare clinics so, as veterinary nurses, me and my colleague are there twice a week microchipping, giving advice, and nail clipping just building a bridge between owners and the veterinary world.”
Reaction to the new shop on its first day seemed to be positive.
Having her first look round, Beverley Pateman said: “Absolutely amazing, it’s got so many good brands, it’s light, it’s airy, it’s what Daventry needs to bring people in and make Daventry well known”.
Sophie Butler said: “It’s quite refreshing because there’s tonnes of stuff in here. It’s bigger than most of the other ones.
“The only trouble is to try to stop buying everything, as I live on a boat and temptation is not what I need.”