THE Spaxton community that rallied round to create their own successful voluntary village shop officially opened a new Post Office branch yesterday.

While the trend nationwide is seeing Post Office branches closing, store manager Karen Dennett says the service will provide a lifeline for many in the village.

"The villagers have shown great passion to get this up and running. The village shop has been a big success and today now we are opening our new branch of the Post Office," Mrs Dennett.

"It is a real credit to the incredible effort and willpower of the community and will provide valuable services for the residents here."

When the previous village shop and Post Office closed a number of Spaxton residents got together and managed to gradually attain support, funding and grants to get the village shop running.

It now has one part-time member of staff and 52 volunteers who put in shifts so that the store can open seven days a week.