A community fundraiser has been launched for a much-loved pet shop that has been running for more than 50 years.

Manager of Dogs Dinner Pet and Garden in Kirkdale Road in Leytonstone Bob Auger announced that the shop was closing in December due to lack of trade.

He posted the announcement on Facebook on the Leytonstone Life community page about the closure.

The post said: "We at Dogs Dinner thank you for all your support in our 14 years at our lovely unique little pet shop.

"As costs have risen over the years, and the move to internet buying (and we don’t blame anybody for wanting to save money) it’s come to the point our business is no longer viable.

"So with great regret we have to sadly close our doors for the last time early new year.

"We will continue to trade until then with limited stock.

"Once again we thank you for your very much appreciated support, we will miss you all."

In response to this news, one member of the community, Elise Norman, launched an online fundraiser on December 14, 2018, to raise money for the shop.

Ms Norman wrote: "We’d love to support a local Leytonstone business and help Robert and his long-standing, much loved local shop get back on its feet.

"The thought of it closing down has saddened many locals who didn’t realise how tough times were - now that we know we’re determined to turn this around - here’s to community spirit and Leytonstone life."

Mr Auger has managed the store for 12 years.

He said: "When I posted that we were closing, people really rallied behind us and said that they did not want us to close because we are a small pet shop and there are not that many of us left.

"They all got behind us and decided to show their support which was just amazing.

"We stayed open. I cannot knock the people from the community, they are brilliant. Leytonstone is a really nice place to work and the people are lovely."

The current owners of the business have run the business for 14 years, but in total the pet shop has been open for more than 50 years.

The owners are now giving the business time to remain open to see if it is liable in the long term.

The fundraiser can be found at: www.gofundme.com/dogs-dinner-pet-and-garden-needs-leytonstone-love