A new venture in a north Suffolk village has been hailed a success.
For the first time in more than 50 years, a village shop has taken centre stage in Blundeston, near Lowestoft, again.
In an age when internet sales and stores have been closing their doors, the new shop is already proving to be extremely successful and popular.
Celebrating an "amazing" first month of business, Copperfields village store on The Street in Blundeston is serving a "hexagon of villages" locally.
Couple Kayley Morgan and Jamie Borrett took the bold step of changing career to open the village shop.
Selling a range of everyday products - that includes "a wonderful deli counter" - the new store was named Copperfields, as Blundeston is famous for being the birthplace of 'David Copperfield', in the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.
Miss Morgan said: "The shop became available and living there ourselves we knew that Blundeston needed a shop and I thought I would take it on.
"I don’t think there has been a shop like this in the village since the sixties."
Having now been open four weeks, she said: "What an amazing month it’s been.
"It has been really busy.
"Customers' reactions have been very positive, and we are really pleased.
"In the past I believe that the building has previously been a butchers, a bakers, a swimming pool and diving shop and most recently a florist.
"We are offering fresh bread, fresh vegetables all locally sourced where possible, fruit, fresh sausage rolls, quiches and sweets.
"We also have a freezer section, ice cream, alcohol and soft drinks and have takeaway teas and coffees."
The couple said they were "pleased to stock local products" including Blundeston Honey, ‘Tiny Tipple’ - which are Blundeston produced fruit spirits - and Clinks Care Farm apple juice.
'Trying to meet people's needs'
With the convenience store open every day from 8am to 6pm, and from 10am to 6pm on Sunday's, Miss Morgan said: "There are no regular buses in Blundeston, so we are here when villagers - who don't drive - run out of things.
"Youngsters are coming in after school getting their sweets and ice creams.
"Before opening the shop, I was a self-employed painter and decorator.
"It was my idea to change career and I have brought the family into it including my partner Jamie.
"We have converted a small room into a library with donations from readers to Blundeston in Bloom.
"We try to keep our prices as low as possible and will soon be introducing fresh cakes and scones.
"We are judging demand and trying to meet people's needs, and I believe this may be the only such shop serving six villages locally - so we look forward to people coming to see what we have to offer."
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