Village offers shares for new PO

A metal container is home for the village post office

Devon villagers who want to set up their own shop and post office have issued their first shares.

Aveton Gifford's last permanent post office closed in 2003 and it is now in a metal container, dubbed the "Green Tin", in the main car park.

Each £5 share will go towards raising £75,000 for a permanent community centre which will include a post office and internet access.

Local MP Gary Streeter launched the fund-raising campaign on Wednesday.

'Gathering momentum'

Burda Gage, a member of the local trust founded to set up the expanded business, said: "We are aiming to build a wooden eco-friendly farm shop building within two years, which will also have a cafe, meeting point and an internet link."

The business had over the last three years been a "lifeline" to elderly people in the community who had no car, she said.

The expansion plans got under way with the help of the charity Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA), which helps rural communities set up and run their own shop.

A ViRSA spokesman said: "There are about 170 community run shops in Britain today, and that number is increasing by around 20 a year.

"But village shops are closing at the rate of about 300 a year, so there is a shortfall to make up."