A PETITION urging the Government to reject proposals to relax legislation on chemists has been handed to Durham's MP.
Susan Cook, owner of Leak Chemists in Durham, visited the offices of Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg on Friday, to hand over a petition of 2,200 signatures.
The petition is calling for the Government to ditch proposed legislation that would remove regulations on where drug-dispensing pharmacies can open, allowing more retailers to sell medicines.
Signatures were collected from customers at Leak branches in Belmont and Framwellgate Moor in the city, over about two months.
Ms Cook said: "Our customers tend to be elderly and vulnerable and they don't want to see their local pharmacy close. They would rather have a local pharmacy than one in a supermarket, because they tend to be easier."
It is the third such petition Mr Steinberg has received protesting against the proposals.
He said: "The present system caters for everybody's needs and you don't change a system that works."
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