Dropping in: First shop in 20 years craned into Shropshire village - with video and pictures
A Shropshire village is a step closer to having its first shop in 20 years after it was craned into position.
Beckbury residents have to travel to Albrighton or Shifnal to pick up a bottle of milk or loaf of bread.
But now, after the community rallied together, its very own shop – ran entirely by volunteers – is set to open in March next year.
The Beckbury Community Shop arrived last week and has been positioned next to the village hall.
It was made possible after a share scheme raised £7,000 as well as a £24,000 grant from the Prince's Countryside Fund.
Chairman of the committee, which made it happen, Peter Gibbins said: "It all started off with our parish plan which we published in early 2014 when a good majority of people said they'd like to see a shop in the village.
"The previous one had shut down nearly 20 years ago. To go to the closest shop you've got to go from Shifnal and Albrighton. It's a reasonable drive to go and get a bottle of milk or bread. In 2014, the parish council decided to set up a little committee to explore the possibility of building a shop.
"We got planning permission but then it was all about raising the money. We launched a community shares scheme where villagers could buy shares. It raised just over £7k. The combination of that and a grant gave us enough money to do what we wanted to do."
So far, 40 volunteers have promised to give their support but more are needed in order to run the shop on a seven-day-a-week basis.
Work has now begun to fit out the interior.
"It was craned in on Friday with three inches to spare either said," said Mr Gibbins.
"It's going to be completely manned by volunteers. We're hoping to open it seven days a week in March.
"We have a rough idea but we're not completely firm on the hours yet.
"We're confident it's going to be a success. There are a lot of community shops around the country and 98 per cent have continued and succeeded.
"There's only 140 houses in the village and to have raised that much money is really good."
The shop will include a small coffee machine, basic groceries, newspapers, a fridge of chilled food and seats.
