Village shop closed during pandemic is reopened

The shop is now in a permanent building

A community has banded together to reopen its village shop, after it closed down during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The community-run shop in Brent Knoll, Somerset, had been running out of a temporary building for the last two years, after the closed-down store was sold off.

The service relies on volunteers to run it, meaning there is no payroll, so products can be sold cheaper, while still making a profit.

The new premises has more space, is better heated and more accessible for the community.

David Yates, the shop's chairman, said it had been a "long process"

David Yates, chairman of the shop's management committee said: "It's been quite a long process but held up for various reasons, but we're here at last after two or three years of solid work.

"We've had three years of trading at a profit," he added, which he belives shows the shop is needed in the village.

Volunteer Caroline Sturgess said she started with the team a few years ago, stepping into book-keep.

"We started off as volunteers," she said, adding they later had a paid manager before they left.

Ms Sturgess also said volunteers buy the stock, do the rotas and look after the money.

The shop sells groceries, toiletries, alcohol and a "lovely supply of biscuits".