A NEW shop in Ingleton is offering artists and designers somewhere to display and sell their creations - from what was formerly the village’s Barclays Bank.

Gingerbugs and Co, in The Square, is a partnership between two friends, artist Clare Tyas and bag maker Steph Hughes.

Officially opened recently by Ingleton Gala Queen Caitlin Ellershaw, the shop sells a collection of gifts, souvenirs and homewares made by more than 40 artists, designers and makers from within the village, surrounding Dales and beyond.

“As an artist and a maker ourselves, we know how hard it is for small-scale creative businesses to get their work ‘out there’, and we wanted to give talented people an opportunity to sell their creations,” said Clare. “Our shop gives locals and visitors a chance to buy something different and unique, made by a real person, rather than something that has been mass produced.”

“Many of our suppliers are based within around 20 miles of the shop, with others located elsewhere in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. A few are from further afield, but are people we know and who’s work we admire.”

Steph said: “There is a real revival in people wanting to buy items made locally, using skill and care. Buying locally keeps money in the local economy, supporting local makers and artists directly. We know many of our makers personally, and can tell customers the stories behind what they do. That has to be better than buying something that’s been made in a factory on the other side of the world, where the money goes to a faceless corporation.”

Steph and Clare both live in Ingleton with their families and are proud that their business has revived a building that had been empty for three years.

“We’ve had such a positive response from both visitors and locals alike. People are really happy to see the building back in use, and to see new start-ups like ours joining well-established businesses and attractions in this village, which is such a wonderful place to visit, live and work. We hope this positive activity encourages more people to shop locally in Ingleton,” said Steph.