A WINSFORD pub has sprung to the rescue after it was announced that the village shop would be closing.

Jenny and Paul Lawson, who have run Winsford Stores for seven years, said it was with a heavy heart they would be closing the shop on September 27.

The couple said that while they have worked hard to maintain a profitable business, they have reached a point where they can no longer compete with internet delivery vans and other shops in the area.

They had been using their pensions to run the store and have tried to sell it over the past four years.

At a meeting on Tuesday, Mark and Sally Bradley, who run The Royal Oak, announced they would be opening an alternative shop.

Mr Bradley said: “We will be opening The Oak Shop on September 29 and we envisage that it will be open Mondays to Saturdays from 8.30am to 12.30pm for newspapers, milk and dairy products, fresh meat and some frozen products.”

They will also be operating an off-license and Mark said the prescription service will continue and he hopes that the outreach Post Office will be available to use in October.

There will also be a seating area known as the Oak Coffee Shop for people to relax.

Jenny said: “The villagers were really supportive towards us and understanding.

Paul added: “It is such a shame and we’re very saddened, but if people don’t use the shop then what do they expect us to do.

“I did a survey asking all of the houses if they used us, it came back that only 49% – and 38% of those only use the shop to buy milk and bread.

“We’ve lost all our savings, we’ve been using our pension, we just can’t carry on any more.”

West Somerset MP Ian LiddellGrainger said he was very upset about the news.

He added: “People must use local assets or they will lose them.

“We are spiralling down. We knew that when the big supermarkets moved in this would happen, it’s a terrible shame.”