POLICE hunting burglars who raided a West Somerset village community shop have appealed for anybody with information or CCTV footage to step forward.

Stogumber’s volunteer-run shop and Post Office was robbed in the early hours of Wednesday, August 12.

The thieves smashed the large shopfront window, which had been specially made in a traditional fashion and only installed a few months earlier.

They stole cash from the till and also took about £250 which was the proceeds of ticket sales for a music concert in the village’s St Mary’s Church on Friday, September 4.

The smash and grab raid happened at about 4.50 am and police were on the scene in only about 10 minutes after neighbours called 999.

However, the thief, or thieves, had quickly made off by that time.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We were called to the premises, in High Street, at about 4.50 am and informed the person, or persons, responsible had left the scene.

“Officers arrived at the scene at about 5 am.

“A number of inquiries have been conducted so far, including house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.

“Crime scene investigators have also attended the scene.

Villagers in Stogumber are raising funds for the community shop and Post Office to relocate next door.
Stogumber’s community shop and Post Office relocated to the building next door in April, 2026. ( )

“Anybody with information is asked to contact us on 101 or online, quoting reference number 5226226336.”

The shop was back open by Wednesday evening thanks to the efforts of villagers who came together to help clear up broken glass and other damage.

Half of the stolen ticket money was for the church concert musicians, and the rest would have gone toward the running of the church, which is across the road from the shop.

A spokesperson said: “The village is hoping that many more people will buy tickets, not just to hear wonderful music, but to show that selfish thieves cannot break community spirit.”

The community shop only moved into its new premises in High Street, next door to the old property earlier this year when former shop owners Roger and Anne Howe returned to cut a ribbon.

Local residents and supporters had raised more than £190,000 toward a total project cost of £350,000 which allowed the venture to launch in 2023.

The community effort was started after the retirement of Mr and Mrs Howe because a buyer could not be found to take over the business.

In April this year, the 60 or so strong volunteer group which now runs the shop and Post Office celebrated the third anniversary after moving from the original premises to a building next door which offered more space for trading.

The relocation was completed in a single weekend with freezers, storage shelves, and shop-fittings installed and the entire stock moved.

The music concert in the parish church next month will feature Sebastian Tesouro on violin and Geoffrey Boyd on the piano.

They will perform music from around the world, including from Argentina, Bulgaria, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, and Russia.

The wide ranging repertoire will feature tangos, Irish reels, Balkan horas, Edith Piaf, Bizet, Brahms, Schubert, and Tchaikovsky.