Blaze damages animal charity shop

The façade of an animal charity shop in St Paul's Bay was extensively damaged by fire early this morning. 

The fire also damaged the façade of St Paul's Charity of Choice shop and a secondary door. Some six bags full of clothes and other material donated to the charity shop was burnt.

It is not known how the fire started.

Volunteer Vivien Buckley Palmer said a neighbour hosed the fire down at around 5 a.m.

It took eight volunteers around six hours to clean the mess.

"It's going to cost us a lot of money to repair the damage sustained," Ms Buckley Palmer said, appealing to the public to lend a helping hand.

The charity shop, run by volunteers, donates the money it makes to some 15 people to feed stray cats. It also helps people with their veterinary bills and animal neutering.

Ms Buckley Palmer may be contacted on 2158 0227.