VILLAGERS trying to start up a shop to serve their Dales community are holding a public meeting on Saturday.

They are convinced a new store in Clapham can succeed, following the closure of the previous shop in May, and have put together a feasibility study which will be presented at the meeting.

The shop would be community-owned and run - and would need start-up capital of around £30,000.

Don Gamble, chairman of the ClaphamCommunity Shop Steering Group, said a shop is viable - providing it got wholehearted backing from villagers.

He said: "We will be putting the results of the study to the meeting and if there is a vote to go ahead we then hope to issue shares.

"People have said they would back the new store and now we need to translate that enthusiasm into hard cash!"

Mr Gamble added that it was envisaged that the shop would be run by a paid manager with help from a team of volunteer assistants.

The steering group thought that a pool of around 30 volunteers willing to work a few hours a month could be enough to run it successfully, Mr Gamble said.

The meeting is in the village hall and starts at 2pm. A draft business plan incorporating the study is available. For a pdf version email claphamshop@btinternet.com or phone Mr Gamble on 015242 51775