The future of a self-help shop serving at least three villages and part of Didcot will be decided at a public meeting.

East Hagbourne's community store, part of the New Road sub post office, has survived with a rota of nearly 30 villagers who help behind the counter, while parish council chairman Monica Lawson looks after the accounts.

Mrs Lawson said the arrangement was working well, with Terry Clarke running the post office counter.

But Mr Clarke, of South Moreton, who retired from his own business Gift Ideas in Didcot more than a year ago does not want the additional responsibility of the community shop.

Mrs Lawson said: "While the rota of helpers in the community shop has been been successful, it is an ad hoc arrangement. In order to put the community shop on a proper legal footing, we need an elected management committee and a list of volunteers."

A public meeting will be held at Hagbourne Primary School, East Hagbourne on Monday, September 10, at 7.30pm to be addressed by Miss Helen Datson of the Oxfordshire Village Shops Association and Mr David Fisher of the Village Retail Services Association.

Mrs Lawson said: "Initially the village will have to decide if it wants to keep the shop going, and then form a committee and draw up a rota of helpers."

The premises, including the sub post, office are leased by the parish council, but the parish cannot be responsible for running the shop.

The sub post office and stores draws customers from neighbouring villages including West Hagbourne and Blewbury as well as Didcot. A few customers from Aston Tirrold and Upthorpe also use the shop.