Residents in a South Downs village are encouraging locals to do their Christmas shopping in the heart of their community.

The West Meon Village Shop is a community-owned business with the Cuppacheeno cafe also located on the premises.

However, there is concern from residents about the shop’s future, with the message being “use it or lose it” as the cost of living crisis hits hard for businesses nationwide.

Procter Hutchinson, volunteer and management committee member, said: “If people don't support it in the good times, they won't have it in the bad times. and that's the message we're always trying to get across.

“We have customers who say they do all their shopping in the store and the display is looking really rather good at present.

“It is the centre of the community and when I first came to the village 50 years ago there were three shops, one is now a house because it folded and one of the pubs also became a house.”

This year, the shop team have gone all out for the Christmas display and there are plenty of goods on offer and the exterior of the shop was recently repainted. The hope is to entice locals and visitors to do some of their shopping for the festive season at the shop, as it would go towards its upkeep.

Mr Hutchinson added: “This last year we have had to support the current account from savings but this cannot continue indefinitely. There are no more cost saving initiatives that we can think of so it is up to the Meon Valley community to get with the programme and use the shop before the next snow fall!”

The shop is open 7am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and is open an extra hour on Friday and Saturday, Sunday is 8am to 3pm.