ALTHOUGH trade in village shops fared better than most during the recent big freeze, business was not as brisk as that which followed snowfall in February last year.

ALTHOUGH trade in village shops fared better than most during the recent big freeze, business was not as brisk as that which followed snowfall in February last year.

That's the view of Beryl Hounsome, of the community shop in Offwell.

"We kept the shop open, which was quite difficult," she told the Herald.

"We had a constant trickle of customers, but didn't sell out like we did last year."

Volunteers at the shop kept the business going by telephoning villagers to ask if they needed anything.

Some food orders were delivered.

"People knuckled down and waited for the thaw," said Mrs Hounsome.

A 4x4 vehicle was used to collect the shop's milk from Windmill Garage.

It was left there, because delivery drivers could not make it into the village.