The owner of an independent shop has warned pet lovers to support local retailers or they face losing them.

To emphasise the point, Hannah MacKenzie, of Kirkham Pet Centre, near Preston, has put a’ BUY LOCAL OR BYE BYE LOCAL’ poster in her shop window.

Posting on the shop’s Facebook page, Hannah said: “I am deeply, deeply disappointed. We work very hard, far above and beyond the opening hours of the shop.

“I recently spent over 15 minutes speaking with one individual, chatting about diet, what they were worried about, and what they wanted. I offered information, resources and just did my usual thing.  We saw them a little while later to be told they’d ordered the food on the internet – in spite of us offering free local delivery.

“I would love to be able to give stock away or have prices that could compete with billion-dollar companies, but we are one family, we are small and we need to be supported or you will lose us.”

Picture taken from Kirkham Pet Centre's Facebook page.