Draycott Community Shop has celebrated its official opening with mulled cider and mince pies for villagers. 

The celebrations kicked off with poster competition winners Ariane and Bella (Draycott and Rodney Stoke First School students) cutting a ribbon to signify the official opening in front of lots of well-wishers. 

"We are delighted to be celebrating our official opening," said Tim Cook, committee chairman.

"The announcement earlier in the year that we might lose our village shop – a vital hub for the community – was a blow, but thanks to the determination and commitment of the entire village, we were able to raise the funds we needed to save it."

Draycott, a village of around 700 households, is an example of how co"operation within a community can overcome the challenges of the current economic climate.

Faced with the closure of the village shop and post office at the start of this year, villagers sprang into action and raised more than £25,000 through sales of shares, in just five months.

With a team of dedicated volunteers to transform the building, and support from a range of local organisations, the project opened within one month of taking it over.