A charity says it has made the 'difficult decision' to close a North East shop due to the rising cost of bills.

A notice has appeared in the window of the Mind shop in Thornaby thanking customers for their support while stating that the store will close on October 1.

The charity's director of retail, Andrew Vale, explained that the shop's lease was due to expire and the rise in rent and utilities means it is no longer viable for Mind to keep it open.

He said: “We’re sad to confirm that the Mind shop in Thornaby, at Pavilion Shopping Centre, will be permanently closing on Saturday, October 1.

"As a charity, we regularly monitor and review the current and long-term profitability of all our shops to make sure we are using our resources as effectively as possible to maximise our income and allow us to make the biggest impact.

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"Unfortunately, we have had to make this difficult decision.

"Remaining open will no longer be viable due to increased rent and utilities, which coincides with the expiration of our lease in October.”

Andrew explained that a large proportion of Mind's income comes from its shops and he thanked staff, volunteers, donors and shoppers for all their support.

He added: "We depend on the generosity of our supporters to continue our vital work.

"This is more important than ever, as the ongoing cost of living crisis means we can expect to see a rise in mental health problems and increased demand for mental health services.

"We really hope the residents of Thornaby will continue to support Mind in other ways to help make sure we can be there for the people who need us.”

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