FORMER Greenham postmistress Peggy Wotton MBE officially re-opened Stawley Village Shop and Tea Room at Greenham on Friday.

Sally and Martin Perry took over the tenancy in April and have made radical changes to the shop to create a welcoming environment for locals and visitors.

Children from Stawley School were able to climb on the fence and watch the ribbon cutting before marking the occasion with an ice stick, courtesy of Sally and Martin.

Martin said: “It is a privilege to serve our community with both a local shop and an informal meeting place.”

Sally added: “We offer freshly-baked cakes, snacks, teas, coffee plus local bread, eggs and other produce.”

The landlord, Stawley Community Association (SCA), has attracted grant funding from Village SOS for a new chiller unit and applications have been made to other bodies to help towards further improvements.

The SCA is also improving signage to the shop to direct visitors, particularly those following the nearby National Cycle Route 3. It is hoped these efforts will contribute towards the shop’s long-term sustainability.

The shop, on the road between the A38 at Whiteball and Ashbrittle, serves the local communities of Appley, Ashbrittle, Bathealton, Greenham, Kittisford, Stawley and Tracebridge.