World's 'oldest village shop' to close

One of the world's longest-running village stores is to close its doors after more than 150 years of trading.

The committee-run Highburton Village Stores, which was established in 1856 - the same year the Crimean War ended - claims to be the oldest shop of its type in the world.

However, 20 years of declining sales will come to an end on February 27 when the shop closes its doors for the last time.

Co-operative chairman Roger Wilson, who has managed the shop for the last two years, told More Than Business News that the reason for the closure was not down to the financial crisis, but to a range of factors, including a "social change in shopping styles".

"The committee and the people have been doing as much as possible to keep it going, but the writing has been on the wall for some time," he added.

"The market out there just isn't sympathetic to lone traders."

And the loss of the shop, which has been at the heart of the community for generations, is not going to affect everyone equally, according to Wilson.

"The customers have been very loyal - we just haven't had enough of them," he added.

"The middle-aged people have taken it in their stride, but it's harder for the older people who have mobility concerns."

IMAGE Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/PA Photos