A LEADING Hampshire charity is closing all three of its shops due to falling profits, with four jobs set to be axed.

Bosses at the Rose Road Association say they have been forced into the closures as the shops are “unable to make the financial contribution” that they used to.

But they have insisted that the charity itself is not in any financial difficulty.

Volunteers and staff have reacted with anger and disappointment to the news and some say they have still not officially been told about the sudden closures.

The Southampton-based charity, which works with youngsters with complex health needs, had run three shops, in Woolston, Portswood and Gosport.

However the association’s chief executive says the “difficult decision” to close the shops was made as they “are unable to make the financial contribution to the charity which was the case in the past”.

Heather Aspinall says the Gosport and Woolston shops will close immediately “due to essential health and safety work, which would have been required at some cost if the shops were staying open”, while the Portswood branch will close in August.

She added: “All staff and volunteers were informed in writing of the possible closures during a consultation period over the last few weeks.

“The final decision was regretfully made last week. Permanent staff were informed personally and we are in the process of writing again to all concerned to inform them.

“I understand that this is an upsetting time for staff and volunteers who have given their time and talents over many years.

“We are extremely sorry that we are unable to continue the shops, and we would like to thank all those customers who have donated and bought goods over the years that we have been running the shops.”

She confirmed that the charity is not in financial difficulty.

But some of the volunteers and staff who worked in the shop have reacted with anger to the closure.

Anne Page, relief manager of the Woolston store, said she had still not been formally notified about the closure.

She said: “It’s disgraceful, there’s no respect whether we are volunteers or paid workers.

“Some of the volunteers have been working there for 14 to 15 years.”

Valerie Hipwell, a volunteer at the store, said: “It’s very sad. We knew the lease for the shop ran out in June but we didn’t expect that.

“I went in last Friday and we were told it was closing this Thursday. I volunteered there for 14 years and nobody said anything.”