According to the Rural Shops Alliance, 600 country shops closed last year. Together with the post office closure programme, this means thousands of neighbourhood hubs are being lost.

The people of Avebury, in Wiltshire, are among those trying to reverse the process. In April last year, the village shop closed when the adjoining post office shut down. Last Sunday, the shop reopened. The villagers, led by a small steering group, banded together to raise enough money to save it: 241 people bought £10 shares, with £3,000 coming from local donations and £25,000 from charitable schemes.

The National Trust, the organisation that owns the building, offered a minimal rent, a local blacksmith and carpenter made the shop sign and fitted out the interior, and one volunteer bakes cakes to sell. The shop, run by a part-time manager and more than 30 volunteers, will stock everyday items such as sweets and washing-up liquid, as well as newspapers and fresh bread. Post office facilities will also be available four half-days a week.