Edinburgh's oldest pet store, Dofos Pet Centre, has come under fire for renting out part of its premises to a business selling fireworks.

The owner of the pet store in Blenheim Place said the move was simply a way to make more money but an animal groups has criticised the decision.

Dofos owner Denise Davidson said the fireworks were being sold from a vacant space beneath the famous pet store, which was founded in 1953.

“It’s just a way of making extra money,” she said. “The space underneath the shop was empty and I wanted to use it. We get people using both stores and it’s been very popular. You will always have fireworks being set off near to animals. I don’t think having the firework store there makes much of a difference to that.

“Sainsbury’s sells fireworks and has a pet aisle, would anybody say anything different about that?”

She added: “I’ve been down and made 100% sure we’re meeting the correct safety measures. It’s downstairs and far away from any of our animals.”

But Dowager Duchess of Hamilton, chair of Scottish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue, said its latest move set a bad example.

“The shop has a good reputation and it’s sad to see them resort to this,” she said.

“Most dogs are petrified and it’s very difficult to watch them cowering in corners during Fireworks Night.”

Firework safety rules demand that vendors run their own risk assessments on properties to ensure appropriate measures are taken but there are no hard and fast restrictions on retail units wishing to sell them.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Some animals have a much stronger reaction to fireworks than others. Anyone with an animal that does suffer from a fear of fireworks should keep their pet indoors on Bonfire Night with the curtains closed and the television or radio turned on for background noise.”