THE community shop and Post Office in Stogumber has been busier than ever after a massive village effort saw the entire stock and equipment moved in one weekend into the building next door.

Now, the volunteer-run shop is looking to celebrate the third anniversary of being community owned on April 24.

A spokesperson for the community benefit society which runs the shop with about 60 volunteers said: “It was a massive task involving many willing helpers and unsung heroes.

“The Post Office made its move a few days before the main shop.

“Then, our wonderful volunteers moved in to shift freezers, put up storage shelves and shop-fittings.

“The stock was moved over the weekend and the new shop opened for business on Monday.”

It is just three years since the village took over the shop after the retirement of the previous owners Roger and Anne Howe, who were unable to find a buyer to keep it going.

Because the High Street property included four bedrooms it was decided the building next door would be cheaper and easier to maintain, although it needed work to increase the retail area.

The society needed to raise £350,000 to cover the cost of the move, including £188,000 to buy the property.

More than £190,000 was raised by an initial appeal, enough to allow the project to go ahead.

The spokesperson said: “The building has been fully refurbished, thanks to help from Somerset Council planners and conservation officers, enabling the alteration of a listed grade two building in a conservation area.

“AC Construction and Ormerod Electric went above and beyond, putting in hard work and commitment to complete the project on time and to a high standard.”

Another volunteer said: “If we had missed buying 4 High Street, the shop and Post Office would not have had a viable long-term future.”