Project shopped by villagers

Grants and contributions helped re-open the village Shop

Villagers in north Devon have saved their shop and post office from being shut down by getting together to buy a new building for it.

Last year, villagers in Rackenford, near Tiverton, were horrified to learn they were about to lose their only shop and post office because it did not meet health and safety regulations.

Their nearest shop would be in Tiverton, eight miles away.

But now nearly everyone in the village has become a life member of the Village Shop Company and the shop will be officially opened on Saturday.

It is a very special community effort Sarah Child, Rackenford Village Shop Company

The shop has also moved into a bigger building, which used to be the old village school.

Refurbishing it cost £75,000, with much of that being paid for with grants.

But so determined were local people to keep a post office in their village that they raised £8,000 towards the new project.

Eighteen months ago, about 90 supporters turned up at an initial meeting held at the local pub, the Stag Inn. Many said from the first meeting they would be willing to contribute to a scheme to keep the shop in the village.

Since then, about 350 villagers have become members of the Village Shop Company.

Community effort

Postmistress Sue Dunn said: "It's wonderful compared with the old shop. There is so much more space. It is so different."

Sarah Child, of the Rackenford Village Shop Company, said: "It is a very special community effort.

"There is hardly a household in the village that has not contributed or put in an enormous amount of time in fundraising or renovation."

As well as groceries and other goods, the shop also intends to specialise in selling local products and crafts, which villagers hope will attract custom from around the area.