'Go-getter' village wins national praise

Tackley is singled out in the Living Britain Report as an example of flourishing community spirit in Britain, after building its own shop and post office.

The village, population 800, was spurred into action in 2001, following the closure of the last of its three shops.

Six years later, its community-run All in One centre combines a shop, village hall, post office and coffee shop.

Shop manager Angie Hall said: "People were very concerned about the decline of the village after the shops closed.

"They held a meeting, which all the village attended, and talked about how they could build and run a shop. At that time the village hall was about to be refurbished and the committee went into partnership so when the refurbishment took place, a shop was built on."

The community paid for the project with grants and loans, some of which came from villagers themselves.

The official opening was performed by Witney MP David Cameron in February 2004.

Mrs Hall added: "Four years later, the shop is a real success. We sell everything you could want, from quails eggs to locally-produced organic meat and gifts to toilet rolls.

"During the summer, all the fruit and veg was grown locally and, while we are still paying back our loans, we hope future profits will go into community projects."

Mrs Hall is the only paid member of staff at the centre. Volunteers, aged 15 to 80, take it in turns to work two-hour stints in the business.

The report has been produced by Forum for the Future - a charity which promotes sustainable living through innovation.

Mrs Hall said: "One of the greatest things for us has been having visitors from around the country, who have come to learn about what we have done and then taken it back to their own communities.

"When we heard we had been called go-getters in this national report we were thrilled. It means a lot.

"Everyone has worked really hard and it is great to know that our community spirit and success is inspiring others."