MORE than 20 vets, shops and businesses across Suffolk and Essex now have the Evening Star Save the Blue Cross campaign petition for people to sign.

FELIXSTOWE: More than 20 vets, shops and businesses across Suffolk and Essex now have the Evening Star Save the Blue Cross campaign petition for people to sign.

Thousands of people have added their signature to petition forms and coupons, with many also displaying posters in their businesses, homes and cars, and hundreds adding their voice in letters and on-line.

Many are also writing direct to Blue Cross chief executive Kim Hamilton to voice their protest over the proposal to close the charity's animal adoption and welfare centre in Felixstowe.

Nicky Abbott, one of the 65 volunteers at the centre, in Walton High Street, has been travelling the county ensuring people have a chance to add their names to the petition.

“I am determined to cover as much ground as possible and get the petition into as many places as possible,” she said.

“People are passionate about this issue - they are very angry at what the Blue Cross wants to do.

“They want to see the Blue Cross continue its work in the Felixstowe area, helping as many abandoned, homeless and needy animals as possible.”

The charity, which wants to close Felixstowe to set up a new centre in the north-west because it claims this would help more pets, has promised to listen and take into account all views before it makes a final decision.

Where you can sign the petition:

Felixstowe: Evening Star office, 172 Hamilton Road; Happi Pets, Grange Road; Palace Cinema, Crescent Road.

Trimley St Mary: McColl's, High Road, Trimley St Martin; Whitworth's Vets, Station Yard, Trimley St Mary.

Martlesham: Seapets, Ipswich Retail Park, Anson Road, Martlesham Heath.

Woodbridge: Ryder Davies and Partners, 18 Grundisburgh Road, Woodbridge.

Framlingham: Framlingham Pet Shop, 25 Bridge Street, Framlingham. Castle Veterinary Group, Pepperwash Lane, off Saxtead Road, Framlingham. Framlingham Veterinary Surgery, Framlingham Farmers Building, New Road, Framlingham. Rumbles Fish Bar, College Road, Framlingham.

Melton: Melton Veterinary Surgery, Spur End, Wilford Bridge Rd, Melton.

Wickham Market: Castle Veterinary Group, Chapel Lane, Wickham Market. Tea Pot Tea Room, 46 The Hill, Wickham Market.

Earl Soham: Earl Soham Veterinary Surgery, 18 The Business Centre, The Street, Earl Soham.

Debenham: Castle Veterinary Surgery, 48A High Street, Debenham.

Holbrook: The Tea Shop, Ipswich Road, Holbrook.

Capel St Mary: Harvest Moon Caf�, Bypass Nurseries, London Road, Capel St Mary. Bypass Nurseries,

London Road, Capel St Mary.

Stanway: Seapets, 1 Tollgate Road, Stanway.

Rendlesham: Happi Days Dog Day Care, 53 Bentwaters Business Park, Bentwaters Parks, Rendlesham.

Tunstall: Acorn Dog Training.

Wherstead: Jimmy's Farm, Pannington Hall Lane, Wherstead, Ipswich.

Send us your messages of support for the Save the Blue Cross campaign - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Sign the Evening Star Save Our Blue Cross petition today - you can sign it in the places listed above, on-line or download further copies from our website www.eveningstar.co.uk and get friends, family and neighbours to pledge their support.

You can also leave your comments on-line about the closure proposal.

Display a poster in your window - collect one from the Evening Star's Ipswich and Felixstowe offices.

Write to Blue Cross chief executive Kim Hamilton at Blue Cross head office, Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PF.