MAJOR building work has begun on Roadwater Community Shop to renovate and redesign the building and add an extension for a café and community hub.

It is the culmination of months of hard work to raise the £230,000 needed.

The final piece in the jigsaw was the recent award of a grant of £80,000 from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities fund.

With funding already agreed from Fairfield Foundation, St Luke’s Mission Fund, Exmoor National Park Authority and Somerset Social Enterprise Fund, plans are now turning into action to make the shop more than just a shop.

In 2017, the Community Benefit Society was formed to operate the shop on behalf of the village.

“Our vision is to provide a facility where people can shop locally and enjoy socialising over a cup of coffee. The café/ hub will be a place where they can access information, make new friends and join support groups,” said chairman Rob Wetheridge.