Villagers rally round after shop shuts down

But fellow traders in Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, have stepped in to make sure vital services are still on offer.

The village butcher now supplies papers, magazines, milk and bread, while the village tea room is extending the range of take-out food and drink.

Jukes Village Store has been serving the village for over a century, but at the end of February closed its doors. It is now empty and up to let, with residents unsure what its future holds, but they have rallied round to offer the same services the villagers will be losing.

A post office will be opening in Rowberry's Garden Centre, which will offer parking and easy access from the Bromsgrove-Kidderminster road, on the edge of the village.

Owner of The Village Butcher, Mark Page, said: "It is really important we all keep these services going, so we thought we'd start offering papers and morning goods so villagers can get what they need.

"It's been an interesting start, a very lively one to say the least. We've had great feedback and everything at the moment is positive. I've been owner of The Village Butcher for 10 years, but the butchers has been there for around 100 years itself. My family has been part of this village for around 300 years, so I feel a very strong connection to what happens here.

"We hope to carry on and make it an even better service for residents in the village."

Helen England, aged 48, has lived in the village all of her life and been owner of The Flower Room for the past nine years.

She has taken on the services of greeting cards, post stamps and dry cleaning. Helen said: "When the post office closure was first announced around six months ago, it was all a bit doom and gloom in the village, but the response from the community and shops has been fantastic.

"The three services I've taken on might at first seem a little odd together, but they've worked out to almost go hand in hand with The Flower Room.

"It's been a really positive start to the new change in the village services and I hope it will long continue in that way.

"It would be great if a new business would come in and take over the post office to compliment the other shops in the village, but we will wait and see what happens with it."

Councillor Stephen Williams said: "Chaddesley Corbett is a lovely area. In the village street we also have a hairdresser, a beauty salon and pubs, The Swan and The Talbot, plus The Fox and the garage Londis Store nearby.

"We're so lucky to have such great shopkeepers, who are rallying round for the benefit of everyone."

David Hislop, aged 77, has lived in the village for over 30 years.

He said: "We thought this would be a sad moment for the village, but other shopkeepers have decided to work together and put new life back into what is already a vibrant village street.

"It shows that community spirit is still alive within the village and everybody is chipping in to help each other.

"It's a shame the post office and village store closed after all of these years, but we will continue and do the best we can with the resources that have been made available to us."

Chairman of the parish council William Mack said he was 'delighted' with how the village has come together.

He said: "When Jukes Village Store was announced it was closing, after 100 years, we obviously feared the worst.

"But it has been a fantastic local initiative which sees all of the services the shop offered still readily available by other facilities in the area.

"I'm very pleased that everything is running as smoothly as it was."