A tiny north Shropshire village which has been without a shop for about 10 years could soon have a replacement under major plans which could cost £120,000.

People in Calverhall are behind the proposals, which are linked to the revamp of Calverhall Cricket Club.

If the idea goes ahead, it would be the first shop for Calverhall and nearby Ightfield in about 10 years.

In 2001 Sheila Davies, who ran P & S Davies in Ightfield, near Whitchurch, for 18 years, announced plans to sell it as a going concern. But no buyer was found and Calverhall and Ightfield have been without a shop ever since.

It means villagers have faced trips to either Market Drayton, Whitchurch or Prees for their shopping.

Elaine Griffiths, a committee member at Calverhall Cricket Club, today said a community shop featured among the plans for a new club pavilion.

But she said more talks needed to take place about the format of the shop.

It could be a fully-blown community shop like the one in Cheswardine, near Market Drayton, or more of a bulk-buying scheme where villagers travel to Shrewsbury or another big town to buy groceries in bulk for fellow residents.

Mrs Griffiths said part of the new pavilion could be used for a community shop, with talks under way to see if this would be feasible.

She said: “We know that various groups including the parish council have talked about the possibility of a community shop.

“The cricket club has raised £120,000 for its new pavilion and we want to put it to community use in some way so this could be for a community shop or similar scheme. We’ve got planning permission for the pavilion and that side of things is really well progressed.”

She said the cricket club has reached its fundraising target after a grant of almost £35,000 was approved. A report to Shropshire councillors said the money would be for replacement of the old clubhouse with a brick building available for sports, community and commercial events, with a community shop “to be explored”