CHIPPENHAM'S RSPCA have found a temporary location in the town two months after a fire forced them out of their old shop.

All stock, fittings and the interior at the shop on The Bridge were removed due to extensive smoke damage following a fire in neighbouring restaurant The Garden in February.

But now the shop has re-opened at a temporary location around the corner at the old arcade in Foghamshire.

“It doesn’t really have a shop window but we’ve put the signs on the old shop saying we’re open just around the corner,” said Richard Clowes, branch development manager for the RSPCA North Wiltshire branch.

“We were desperate to keep a voice and a presence in the town.

“We’ve been quite lucky, we have an amenable landlord and from choosing a location to going through the legal process has taken about three weeks.

“I want to thank the local people who have been hugely supportive and just to let people know that we need donations.

“We’ve had people asking when we were going to be re-opening.

“I think the shop played an important part for people in the town.”

The RSPCA North Wiltshire branch is one of 172 RSPCA branches in England and Wales that works with the national RSPCA and its inspectors to care for sick, injured and neglected animals.

They will be holding a free microchipping event for dogs on Saturday outside Jollyes Petfood Superstore, Hathaway Retail Park, from 10am-1pm.