HUNDREDS of campaigners walked the length of Felixstowe's seafront yesterday in support of the town's Blue Cross centre.

Tom Potter

HUNDREDS of campaigners walked the length of Felixstowe's seafront yesterday in support of the town's Blue Cross centre.

Pet owners braved miserable conditions to join a demonstration against plans to close the centre - with posters, placards and banners proclaiming their anger at the proposals.

Felixstowe's Spa Gardens heaved with campaign supporters, who then walked together in support of the Save the Blue Cross campaign.

Former manager of the animal welfare and adoption centre in High Street, Walton, Tom Crowley, said: “The public need a chance to express their opinion on the closure and we want to gain as many petition signatures as possible.”

There was widespread support for the campaign and its Facebook group now has more than 7,500 members.

“We appreciate that these are trying times for any charity, but the people of this region don't want to see the centre moved,” he said.

Thousands of people have so far signed petition forms and coupons calling for the centre to be retained.

Yesterday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied on the seafront despite the poor weather conditions - and many were accompanied by their energetic pets.

Campaigner Dawn Wombwell, of Trimley, said: “We are doing everything we can to make our point loud and clear, but we still need as much support as possible.”