Humshaugh locals rally round to save shop

About 65 people attended a public meeting in the village hall, which was organised by the shop committee to give them more information about the venture and seek volunteers to help make it a success.

More than 40 agreed to sign up as members of the company - which means they will have voting rights at its AGM - with more than 30 volunteering to work in the shop once it becomes a community-run business.

In addition, pledges and donations totalling £800 were given at the meeting, with the promise of more to come from others who couldn't make it on the night.

Wealthy racehorse-owning businessman Graham Wylie, who lives locally, has promised to do all he can to make the venture a success.

The meeting was told that £22,500 has been secured from the EU/Defra Leader programme, which provides financial assistance for rural businesses in areas such as Northumberland.

In addition, £5,000 has been contributed by the Northumberland National Park's sustainable development fund, £1,500 has come from the Evans Trust in Humshaugh and £7,500 from a source which has to remain anonymous for the time being.

Yesterday Dick Moules, a local parish councillor who chairs the village shop committee, said: "The meeting went extremely well and we were able to explain to people that we have raised the £35,000 which we need and hope to complete early in November.

"We were also asking people for their support to run the business and we got an excellent response. More than 40 signed up on the night and we know that more will follow.

"These are very exciting times for us and I believe this could be the first of many of these community ventures.

"A lot of villages will be in the same position as we are and want to do something about it. The shop will belong to the village and that will mean it will be run how local people want it to be."

The project was launched after the closure of the post office, and the intention of owners Pat and Rob Gray (pictured) to retire, sparked fears that the store was at risk too, leaving villagers with a six-mile trip to do their shopping.