A village shop has celebrated being named the best in Dorset and its 10th birthday.
Thorncombe Stores came joint first in the Dorset’s Best Village competition, winning in the category of Best Village Shop, and received the award as it celebrates its anniversary in the village.
To mark the milestone, a birthday tea was hosted in October, which was attended by volunteers and customers alike.
The community shop also launched its 2020 calender, which features photographs of volunteers in a variety of tasteful yet never-seen-before poses. It is now on sale for £5.50.
Run by the Thorncombe Village Shop Association, Thorncombe Stores boasts a café as well as selling groceries, newspapers and beverages. Most of the staff are local volunteers and a part-time Post Office is also available.
The competition, run by Magna Housing, received a total of 39 entries this year, the majority of which were west Dorset villages. Categories included best large village, which was awarded to Pimperne, best small village, which went to Studland, and best hamlet, which saw Beer Hackett scoop first prize.
Best village shop was won by Thorncombe Stores and Chapel Lane Stores in Abbotsbury.
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