Ref. 29687-75BLUNSDON residents were at a loss when their local shop closed in 2002.

But rather than dutifully mourning its passing they got together and set up their own village store.

And on Monday, Blunsdon Village Shop celebrates its first anniversary.

Operating out of an old portable building, the store looked more like a toilet block to begin with.

But hours of hard work and elbow grease transformed the shack into a bright, clean and well-stocked shop.

When the High Street store first opened it was staffed entirely by volunteers. A paid manager and assistant manager have now been taken on, but its continued survival depends on the goodwill of about 30 local helpers, as well as the support of the residents who shop there.

A year on, shop manager Maggie Fisher, said the shop still had lots of business.

"It's as popular as ever and people are definitely using it on a regular basis," she said.

As well as regular locals, the shop gets its share of passing trade.

The unusual appearance of the building, which was once a building site office, often prompts comments from customers.

"They say it looks really strange but inside it seems bigger, like the Tardis," said Mrs Fisher.

Malcolm Ward, the chairman of the shop committee, said a £30,000 loan was still being paid back, but he said the shop was doing "better than breaking even."

"We are not making a huge profit because it's a community venture," he said.

Any profit made is ploughed back into the community. The committee recently made a donation to the parish council towards a play park for the village.

Mr Ward said he had received several inquiries from other communities whose shops were shutting down.

Andy Tate