A POPULAR Oake village shop is in the money after receiving a grant of almost £30,000 from the Big Lottery.

Oake Village Stores will undergo a full refurbishment before being handed over to villagers following a year-long community project.

Fern Dunn, secretary of the project team which campaigned to take charge of the store, said: “The project to take over the running of the popular Oake store from its current owners has been under way since last summer, and a meeting with the village in January proved that a community-run store would be a good way of keeping the shop.

“This would allow community members to have their say in the stock and services provided by the shop without the need to have all services profitmaking.

The profits would then be ploughed back into the community, such as the upkeep of the village hall and the play area.

“There’s been a great team, including Steve Williams, Erica Atyeo and Diane Rigby.”

The project has also received backing through an additional £1,500 grant from Taunton Deane Council’s Voluntary and Community Organisation Support scheme. This will help to secure the Big Lottery grant by funding its legal set-up.

Cllr Jane Warmington, who holds the community leadership brief at Taunton Deane Council, added: “Relatively small sums can make a big difference.

“This is fantastic news for Oake and well done to everyone involved. I am sure the community shop will be the huge success it deserves to be.”