A VILLAGE shop which was a lifeline during last summer's floods has picked up two accolades for its service to the community.

The shop, at Ascott-under-Wychwood, is run by more than 40 volunteers and it has been presented with the county's Village Shop of the Year award in a competition run by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council.

Just days before, volunteers were at the House of Lords in London to receive a commendation for achieving second place in a national competition.

The west Oxfordshire shop missed out on top spot in the Best Village Shop and Post Office category in the Best Rural Retailer awards, run by the Countryside Alliance.

The winner, chosen out of 2,500 entrants, was based in Nettleton, Wiltshire.

Countryside Alliance Southern regional director Sara Rutherford said: "This is wonderful news for Oxfordshire, and a real shot in the arm for everyone at Ascott who has worked so hard to provide a community hub - especially during last summer's floods.

"This win should be a source of immense pride for everyone in the village - it is richly deserved."

Chairman of The Village Shop committee, Alan Chubb, said of the July 2007 floods: "It was a traumatic time, but it was our coming of age.

"Our house was flooded, but my wife and I went to help out with the relief operation centred on the shop.

"We were ferrying goods to people stranded in their homes, particularly the elderly.

"We became the hub for the village community."

The shop was staffed by a rota of volunteers. They donated emergency packs to those in need and served a never-ending stream of customers with essential food, ready meals - and some much-needed wine.

Ascott was left without a shop in the late 1990s when the owner retired. But, as part of a planning gain deal, the community was given space in a new housing development in High Street.

Through grants and fundraising, £130,000 was raised in eight months and the shop opened for trade in November 2003 and is open seven days a week.

Mr Chubb added: "It was an incredible experience, seeing the community come together like that.

"It was also a case of trial and error knowing what to stock.

"But we now have a bit of everything, from fresh-baked bread to organic cooking chocolate, meat from local farmers and wonderful local cakes."