A village shop at the heart of the community of Coverack is to close after more than eight decades.

Brenda’s will shut on September 30, much to the regret of owner Angie Richards.

The shop is named after her late mother, Brenda, who opened it in its current form 50 years ago.

It originated, however, as a shop selling bread baked by Angie’s grandfather, 83 years ago.

He used to deliver the bread around the village and her grandmother would sell it from the bottom end of the shop.

In 1957 Brenda opened tea rooms, when the bread round was sold to Mother’s Pride.

Angie has run the shop, now a fully fledged convenience store and beach shop, for the last four years.

She told the Packet: “I’ve been trying to keep it going, but unfortunately at the moment things aren’t panning out as well as I expected.

“I really don’t want to shut – I love it. I love my loyal people that come on holiday and live here. At the moment it’s just not financially viable.”

Angie pointed to the large number of supermarket delivery vans that could now be seen in the village on a regular basis, adding: “Shopping trends have changed.”

She still believed that a village should have a shop, but said: “Unfortunately I need good summers to get through the winter and the last couple haven’t been very good.”

Although this summer had been “brilliant”, it is too little, too late.

“We’ll have to see what the future brings. There’s no young families that live in the village; there’s not affordable housing now, which really doesn’t help.

“I feel awful about it. The village has been really good, but unfortunately the village is shrinking in size,” added Angie.

“It’s the same everywhere unfortunately.”

Announcing the impending closure on the shop’s Facebook page, Angie wrote: “Dear customers, it is with regret that we will be closing on September 30.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support over the years.

“Angie, Hugh, our family and all of the crew.”

It has attracted a large number of supportive comments, both from local residents and holidaymakers.

Kay Hawkins described it as “the end of an era,” adding: “We will miss our daily visit every time we are down. How will Coverack survive without all? Best wishes for whatever life after Brenda's holds for you xx”

Colin Elvidge had a similar thought, writing: “Very sad. All the best for the future. The start of the end for Coverack village? Hope not.”

Karen Clarke said the shop would be “great missed”, while Valerie Dexter, previously of Jubilee Cottage in the village, wrote: “That IS a big shock and an even bigger loss for Coverack...it will never be the same again without Brenda's and all that it brought to the village. Wishing you all the best for the future.”