The owners of a small shop in rural Herefordshire have been named the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) Community Heroes 2007.
Martin and Aileen Lovell, who run Shobdon Village Stores, scooped a £1000 prize after getting the most votes from ACS members in an online poll.
The awards aim to recognise the work that neighbourhood retailers do in their local communities.
The entry proved how they have immersed themselves in community life since they took over the store three years ago, according to ACS.
The Lovells have recently launched a website - www.shobdonvillage.co.uk - to provide a one-stop access point for local information.
They offer extra services for their customers, including delivering shopping and gas cylinders to their elderly residents and distributing medicines on behalf of the local doctor’s surgery, as well as sponsoring a number of local events.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Martin and Aileen’s entry has shown how important the services and care they provide are to their local community, and they really do epitomise exactly what the Community Heroes Award is all about.”
Martin Lovell added: “I am delighted to have won ACS’ Community Heroes Award. I am proud of our staff and neighbourhood, and without both our shop wouldn’t survive. We have gone the extra mile to make our shop the centre of our community and winning this award recognises all the hard work we have done.”
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