CAMPAIGNERS for a community shop in Urchfont were pledged support by 150 villagers on Saturday.

The ten-strong campaigning committee has developed a business plan for the scheme which was on display. With a turnover of £2,000 a week, it reckons to return a profit of £1,540 a year.

"But that depends on not having overheads like a mortgage or rent to pay," said committee member Richard Hawkins.

"Ideally we would like to buy our premises outright, be given it or have it on a peppercorn rent. This is a non-profit-making scheme and it depends on what support we can count on from the village."

If Saturday was anything to go by, support is not a problem. One villager commented it was an 'excellent idea, but location is the key. It must be on the main road' while another said a shop would 'serve as a meeting point for all generations'.

Other villagers noted that a shop must be careful not to damage existing businesses, and it would only work as long as there are no large overheads.

Villagers were asked to name the products they would buy from a village shop and what other facilities they would like to see included.

Urchfont Players presented a short sketch showing how not to run a village shop and asked the audience to stop the action and show them the right way to do it.