A COFFEE shop which has been serving the people of North Curry for more than eight years has grown from strength to strength.

The Coffee Shop, based in the heart of the village, is run by volunteers who earn points for every hour they work and in turn raise money for their own respective charities.

Over the last eight years, the 70 volunteers, who work two-hour shifts, have raised more than £60,000 for charities of their choice.

One of the volunteers Michéle Carter said: “I do it because I am recently retired and it is a good way to get out of the house and see other people.

“There are so many interesting people that come into the shop, especially when we get a group of 20 cyclists.”

Parish council chairman Tina Stodgell said the coffee shop has been an integral part of the community since it opened.

She said: “It is huge because it is such a community meeting place and run by community volunteers.

“It is really great to have them in the village and it has grown and grown especially with the cyclists who use the nearby route.

“The shop helps keep going what I consider to be village life because people meet together for a coffee and a chat.”