Allenheads finally gets shop in the village

The shop became a reality after a £14,399 grant from North Pennine Dales LEADER. The funding is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and is managed by One NorthEast in the North East region.

The Trust was then able to secure a £10,000 from the Big Lottery's Awards For All programme and donations from the Sir James Knott Trust, The Joicey Trust, William Leech Charity, Hadrian Trust and local councils.

Christine Hutchinson, who runs both the cafe and shop, said: "It is wonderful to see the shop open at last. Everyone in the village was asked to suggest items they would like to have on sale here so, hopefully, we have been able to make sure that we are catering for a wide range of needs."

The shop will not only cater for villagers but also for the many visitors, tourists and thousands of cyclists who now pass through Allenheads using the C2C cycle route.

Sue Ellwood, co-ordinator of North Pennine Dales LEADER, said: "LEADER is here to help improve the basic quality of life in rural areas and we are delighted that our grant has helped this project, which not only provides a basic service but also supports the local economy and is an excellent use of community-owned assets."

Chair of the Allenheads Trust Keith Walker said: "This is fantastic for the village as there has been no shop here for more than two years. With the nearest shops eight miles away it has been particularly difficult for anyone without a car. A three-hour round trip on public transport is a long way to go for a loaf of bread.

"We are very grateful to the LEADER programme and all the other funders as without their support this project would not have succeeded."

The shop was officially opened by Susie Hall, who has lived in Allenheads for 30 years.