A VILLAGE shop for Westerleigh is looking increasingly likely as support grows for the venture.

The parish lost its only shop and post office last year following the untimely death of post master Stuart Ruff.

Now villagers have shown their strength of feeling for a new shop with more than 50 people turning out for a special meeting last week.

There are 240 homes in the area and residents currently have to travel to Yate Shopping Centre for postal services or Station Road for a pint of milk.

Eve Cary, chairman of Westerleigh Residents' Association, which organised the meeting, said the community was a lovely, friendly one where, until last year, people had enjoyed meeting one another while out shopping.

She said: "It is a social thing as much as anything. Losing the post office and shop has obviously made things difficult for us. I do feel we miss out on things to our big sister Yate."

Two possible venues were identified at the meeting and will now be fully explored.

The idea of creating a shop at the village hall generated support from residents but the parish council's hall committee will have to be consulted before any further action is taken.

Mrs Cary said: "It seems the most sensible idea as it is a community-based hall which the whole community will benefit from."

Although the village hall is residents' favoured site, the shop could also be opened on a new development of houses at The Quadrangle, although owners Sovereign Housing Association would have to give consent.

Mrs Cary said: "It does seem a very good site and because it is a new development, we could probably incorporate something that would not be of great cost to the village."

Northavon MP Steve Webb has lent his support to the campaign and South Gloucestershire Council's Westerleigh representative Cllr Alan Bracey is also backing the project.

He said: "Anything that is going to make life easier for people in the village is something I support."

Post Office Ltd has already been contacted and a rural transfer advisor is helping the residents' association. Advice has also been sought form similar schemes in the villages of Tytherington and Cromhall, where the shop is run by the community for the community.

Meanwhile, the residents' association will investigate both possibilities, and the feasibility of them, and will report back at a another village meeting yet to be arranged.