A COMMUNITY is coming together to bring back its post office and village shop after it closed earlier this year.

Lower Broadheath Post Office closed in May after its owner Colin Barrett retired and a new owner could not be found.

The new shop - which has now been registered as a community benefit society - will be run in the interest of the village.

It will be run almost entirely by volunteers with only one part-time manager in a permanent role.

Following the closure, Mark Glossop, who campaigned heavily to save the old post office and Ian Davies, landlord of The Bell Inn, set about trying to open a new shop.

Strong support from the village for a new shop meant a six person committee was put in place to begin the work of registering the shop as a community benefit society.

The committee, chaired by Mr Glossop, drew up a business plan with the Plunkett Foundation who help rural communities in the UK take control of the issues affecting them through community ownership.

The Plunkett Foundation has also worked with the community shop in Alfrick

Around 45 volunteers showed their support at a volunteer meeting. They will help fundraise and run the shop when it opens.

Opening and maintaining the shop is likely to cost between £65,000 and £70,000 and the committee will raise the majority of the money through fundraising and shares but will also receive some money through grants.

Jessica Ronan, marketing assistant, said: "Shares will cost £10 and that will get you one vote so matter how many shares you buy you still get a vote.

"The main thing is everybody has a vote. You are making a donation but more importantly you have a say.

"The idea of the shop is for social investment rather than financial.

"If there is any money left it will be spent on things in and around the community."

The new community shop is set to open near The Bell Inn on Martley Road in spring 2018.

A village meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 15 at 8pm in Lower Broadheath Village Hall and is open to all.

To donate to the Lower Broadheath Community Shop start-up fund visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lowerbroadheath-communityshop.

For more information visit fb.me/lowerbroadheathshop or www.lowerbroadheathshop.com.