CHARITY shops have seen the demise of village book sales which were helping to fund the restoration of a church near Wellington.

Money from twice-monthly sales of donated books in Stawley Mill Barn was given to the Church of St Michael and All Angels restoration fund.

But, organiser Angela Medlycott said ‘enthusiasm’ for second-hand books had been ‘diluted’ by their ready availability in local charity shops and elsewhere.

Ms Medlycott said it had been decided to raise money by selling many of the books to online second-hand book retailer World of Books and give the rest to the National Trust.

She said there still were many interesting books on travel, cookery, gardening, and history, some priced at 10p, which villagers were invited to see before they all disappeared.