A CHARITY shop is to shut its doors for the final time next month.

Management at Oxfam Bookshop, in London Road, Southampton has confirmed the outlet will shut its doors for the last time on October 21, bringing 17 years of trading to an end.

Co-managers Sarah Tarrant and Louise Robertson said it was "with great sadness" it was shutting.

Sarah, who has worked at the shop for 11 years, said said: “We’ve worked incredibly hard over the years to keep the shop well stocked but it’s with great sadness the shop now has to close.

“If we could have stay open we would.”

Current volunteers have been told they will be offered work at Oxfam’s other three shops in Southampton.

The shop will continue to trade and accept donations from the public up until it closes. Any stock left over will be sent to other stores.

Louise, who began working at the shop in 2013, said: “It’s disappointing and we’re now telling our customers it is closing down. They seem really upset about it too.”

Oxfam has 636 shops across the UK and a popular online shop which together brings in more than £21 million a year to help the organisation fight extreme poverty and inequality.

Veronica Hammond, Oxfam area manager for Hampshire, said: “We’re constantly evaluating the profitability of all our shops, to ensure we’re efficient and making the most money for Oxfam’s vital work. Sometimes this leads to difficult decisions about the viability of particular shops, and unfortunately there are occasions where a decision is made to close a shop but this is never taken lightly and we always take into account the impact that such closures have on our staff and volunteers and the value that Oxfam shops have in the community.

“As part of this process we’re are unfortunately closing London Road Bookshop at the end of October. In the meantime, we’d encourage our wonderful supporters to continue supporting the shop as they have done so generously over the years.”