FELIXSTOWE: Staff at Felixstowe’s treasured Blue Cross animal centre are just days from finding out if the shelter is being saved or shut.

Trustees have met and come to a decision but staff and supporters will have an agonising wait until Tuesday, when an announcement on the shelter’s fate is expected.

Blue Cross chief executive, Kim Hamilton told The Evening Star that a decision would be announced on May 10 but that date has since been brought forward to this Tuesday.

A Blue Cross spokesperson said: “Following a meeting with the board of trustees, a decision has been made about the future of the centre.

“The details are being finalised as quickly as possible and we have brought forward our announcement to minimise the anxiety of staff and supporters at this difficult time.

“We now plan to visit the centre early next week and are grateful for the patience of everyone involved.”

The news will please campaigners who otherwise faced more than a week’s wait.

“We just have to wait and keep everything crossed,” said Tom Crowley, former centre manager and now one of its volunteers and part of The Evening Star Save the Blue Cross campaign team.

“We have done all we can but now it feels very strange because there is nothing more we can do, the decision has been taken.

“ I feel for the staff who have had this hanging over them for four months.”

More than 16,000 people signed an Evening Star protest petition against the closure and supporters have taken part in a protest march and rally.

n Tell us your thoughts on the proposal to close the centre. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

n Opinion – page 6