VILLAGERS in Crowcombe turned out in force last week to celebrate the silver anniversary of what could be the oldest community shop in Somerset.

Crowcombe Community Village Shop and Post Office first opened on St George’s Day, April 23, 2001, and is recognised as one of the longest running community shops in Somerset, if not the longest.

The 25th anniversary was marked by a ‘happy afternoon tea party’ which was attended by about 175 people who live, or previously lived, in the village in the foothills of the Quantock Hills National Landscape, including the shop volunteers.

A birthday cake was cut by the eldest and youngest Crowcombe villagers, Jane Bunbury, who is in her 90s, and toddler Henry Hickman.

Henry’s mother Camilla, who recently moved to Crowcombe and is relaunching her cake baking business, made the celebratory cake.

The tea party was co-ordinated by shop committee chairman Jules Denton and a previous chairman Kevin Chittenden.

Ms Denton said: “To be sure that the shop would look its best, the outside has been refreshed by a local village decorator and signwriter, Edward Henwood.

“The Dulux Decorator Centre, in Wellington, assisted with the supply of paint.”

Ms Denton said the afternoon event had been ‘a true community achievement and celebration’.

The community shop was formed after the village lost its shop and its sub-Post Office in quick succession.

Mr Chittenden and Ian Billinge led the effort to restore the essential community services and helped raise the necessary funding through a share issue and a National Lottery grant.

A rundown barn was renovated to accommodate the shop and Post Office, which is run by a group of about 40 volunteers.

The shop and Post Office is open mornings until 1 pm from Monday to Friday, with just the shop opening until 12 noon on Saturdays.