A charity shop that has raised more than £1 million for cancer patients is to close its doors at the end of the month.

Margaret Fitter, who founded Cancer Funding for Cornwall in Coinagehall Street, took the difficult decision after no one came forward to take it over. Her decision is now final.

Mrs Fitter is being forced to stand down as administrator due to ill health. She said she was “absolutely gutted” that her shop cannot stay running.

She has been fundraising since 1989, when she had a charity rail outside her dress making agency in the old arcade.

The rail became a shop in its own right ten years later and four years ago she set up Cancer Funding for Cornwall, a charity dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families.

Despite the shop’s closure, grants will continue to be given out for the foreseeable future and donations of money can still be made, even after the shop closures on January 31.

More details on how will be given after this date, but for the time being anyone with questions can visit the shop for more information.

Mrs Fitter said she wanted to give “very special thanks” to the shop’s landlord David Martin for his “unfailing support and generosity”, adding: “He has been absolutely fantastic.”

She also thanked all her staff and volunteers, as well as local businesses and organisations Oliver and Son, Dobles, Clarks, Scorse Foods, the Lizard 2000 Club, Flambards and the Packet.