Britain’s largest charity chain with over 750 branches announces closure of shopping centre store after 30 years

A BELOVED charity with 750 shops across the UK is set to close a popular branch for good.

TheBritish Heart Foundation'sstore inside Middleton Grange Shopping Centre in Teeside is set to close after waving in punters for three decades.

Bosses decided to pull the plug after profits dwindled.

Martin Newton, area manager at the British Heart Foundation, revealed that the lease on thestore had ended and the shop pulled down the shutters last weekend.

He added: “It's crucial to our lifesaving work that all of our shops are profitable to allow us to help as many people as possible who are living with heart and circulatory disease.

“A combination of factors meant that sadly this wasn't the case with our Hartlepool shop, and we took the difficult decision not to renew the lease.

“Our nearby home store, which is also located in Middleton Grange will be delighted to welcome customers old and new or you can shop online on our eBay store.

“The store is also accepting quality donations of clothing as well as furniture so please consider donating if you can.

“The nearest BHF fashion stores are atBillinghamand Durham.

“We would like to thank our wonderful staff, volunteers, customers and donors for all their amazing support over the years.”

Other shops leaving the high street

Beales, one of Britain's oldest department stores, has launched a closing down sale before it shuts its last remaining shop after more than 140 years.

The company will shut its branch in Poole's Dolphin Centre on May 31.

The sale includes fashion, furniture, gifts and cosmetics, being sold for up to 70% off.

Beales chief executive Tony Brown blamed the “devastating impact” of the rise in national insurance contributions and the higher minimum wage for the store closure.

Meanwhile, high street fashion chain New Look has begun to close stores as it scales back its UK footprint.

It is understood to be shutting nearly 100 stores – equivalent to around a quarter of its 364 shops.

Stores in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, St Austell, Cornwall and Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf have launched closing down sales.

Reports suggest that the company has been forced to accelerate the pace ofstore closuresdue totaxchanges in theAutumn Budget.

Meanwhile, Huttons in London will shut its store in the Putney Exchange due to excessive energy costs.

The gift shop became a local icon after it opened in the 1990s.

And ahead of today's NationalInsurancehike,New Lookhas ramped up a store closure programme.

Approximately a quarter of the retailer's 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire.

This equates to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on its 8,000-strong workforce.

If you want to keep up to date with store closures happening in your town you can keep an eye on local Facebook groups.

Branches usually host closing down sales – which you won't want to miss.