A group of Bletchingdon residents are working to save a shop that has served their needs for more than 50 years.

Residents of the village near Bicester were dismayed when a notice went up at the Shop on the Green -- where there is also a sub-post office -- warning that it would shut on Friday, March 18.

The shop's owner -- businessman Vincent Kilkenny, of Manor House, Bletchingdon -- put up the notice and some staff are due to leave this weekend. Shop on the Green workers Dianna Adamberry and Karen Cork, front, are pictured outside the store with the closure notice.

Concerned villagers have sent a letter to Mr Kilkenny asking him to postpone the closure.

Group spokesman Vikki Robins, said: "We are concerned about the future of the shop. Mr Kilkenny has been very good in working with us to find a solution. He did save the shop from closure some years ago when he bought the property.

"We do not want to lose it, as not many villages these days have the luxury of having a shop."

Mrs Robins said the group was now considering ways to keep the shop open, including turning it into a village co-operative.

Mr Kilkenny was unavailable for comment.