AFTER packing up its goods more than a year ago, Princetown Community Charity Shop has re-opened its doors to shoppers in a new venue.

The shop, which raises money for the benefit of the village community, was forced to close around 15 months ago as the lease ran out on the premises and the landlord of the building was selling it on. At the time there was nowhere in the village for the shop to relocate.

However, the small team of volunteers who run the shop refused to give up and more than 15 months later have now moved in to a new property across the road, next to the Post Office.

Shop volunteer Jackie Gee said: ‘The lease ended and at the time there was nothing for us to move into, so we’ve had to wait 15 months or so and then the Duchy agreed to rent us this new shop. I think they’ve missed us in the village. The village people all support us because they know that everything goes back into the village.

‘The money we get all goes back into the community. In the past we’ve given money to the school, the pre-school, the Scouts, the youth club, the football team and the OAP’s Christmas dinner. Half the money we get also goes to the community centre as we are under their charity status umbrella. They set up the shop originally about eight years ago.‘

Dartmoor Forest Parish Councillors attended the official opening, as well as shop volunteers and members of the public.