WHEN the Royal Mail pulled the plug on its service at Marchington's general store last summer, shopkeeper Brenda Rhodes feared it was the end of her business.

Without the additional Post Office custom, she didn't think her small shop would be able to stay afloat.

But she did not count on the lengths her customers were prepared to go to keep the shop.

Now villagers, including a retired bank manager, the old post-master, a pharmacist, the vicar's wife and an ex-financial director of Carlsberg, are working behind the counter.

Every night at 5pm a different volunteer appears to begin an hour-long shift, serving the passing trade vital to keep the business afloat.

"It still upsets me to think about the Post Office closure. We must have run one of the best campaigns in the country to keep it open but it is obvious the decision was a formality," said Brenda.

"Being able to open an hour longer has given us all the traffic heading home and that has proved essential to staying afloat."

The idea was the brainchild of former brewery boss Gordon Whitehead, aged 70, of Jacks Lane, Marchington, who didn't want to let the shop meet the same fate as two of the village's pubs. He said: "We knew when the Post Office closed Brenda would face a struggle.

"If it had closed then the village would have been down in the dumps but now between us we are all very optimistic."

Each new worker was given basic training on the till but then left to their own devices.

One, Ralph Nicholson, of Church Lane – a bank manager with Barclays for almost 40 years – has invited Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a cup of tea to justify the decision to close the Post Office outlet.

He gives up his time to ensure Marchington can keep hold of its "lifeline".

He said: "I'm more than happy to help out. This is more than a shop, it is a real village amenity and a meeting place for many people. To be involved has been great fun and it's important we keep it going."

Other shifts are taken by sub-postmaster at the closed branch Tom Castle and villagers Gill Stone and Sandy Halcrow with Jane Tams working as cover.

In an effort to encourage shoppers Brenda has diversified to offer everything from newspapers to handbags and from DVDs to fresh ground coffee, available to drink on the premises.

She is also working with ourproduce.co.uk to supply local meat, groceries, bread and cakes.

"Many customers email the shopping list to a company in Hanbury who deliver the goods here for pick-up on Thursday afternoons," Brenda said.

She said: "We have received fantastic backing and that needs to continue.

"If every person in the village was just to spend £5 in here every week we would have no problem staying open."