VILLAGERS in Wenhaston are celebrating the opening of a new convenience store after more than a decade without a shop to call their own.

The village has gone almost 11 years without a local store but now local couple Jim and Karen Wright have opened Heathside Stores and more than 100 people streamed through the doors on the opening day.

Five years ago, Mr and Mrs Wright bought a derelict site on which they built luxury holiday lodges with help from local independent builders, plumbers, electricians and a landscaper - all hailing from Wenhaston or nearby.

As part of planning permission for Heathside Lodges, which opened last year, the couple agreed to open a village store serving holidaymakers staying in the log lodges and the local community.

Described as a 'mini-supermarket', the purpose-built shop stocks all the everyday essentials and more.

Mrs Wright said: 'We think we can serve the people of Wenhaston and surrounding villages with everything they need - and there's no reason for people not to come and visit from further away.

'Wenhaston has its own post office service in the village hall but it hasn't had a local shop in about 11 years, so the nearest supermarket was in Halesworth.

The Wrights, who also run Heathside Caravans, have employed one full-time and one part-time member of staff to help run the shop, which is supplied by the Mace group and can be found at the Heathside site in Blackheath Road.