Denholme's only food shop is to close for nearly a week.

But villagers have been told a free bus service will be laid on after concerns were voiced by Denholme Town Council. The Food Fair Co-op in School Street, Denholme, will shut on Friday for a £300,000 refurbishment.

Councillors feared that the temporary closure would cause problems for elderly people who rely on it for their supplies.

Now Town Mayor Councillor Russell Driver has persuaded the shop's bosses to provide a bus service to the Co-op in Allerton on Monday and Tuesday at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm.

He said: "They have relented and they are actually going to provide a bus service, which is better than nothing.

"Shutting down for four days when we don't have another shop in the village that's geared up for selling fresh food would be a concern."

Coun Driver, who said he had initially asked the company to provide a mobile shop or van, told last night's town council meeting: "We've got a very elderly populace here who rely on the Co-op."

Councillor Val Sokald praised the town mayor for his intervention.

Lorna Pickles, warden at the Forester Court sheltered housing scheme in Main Road, Denholme, said people in the village had been planning to rally round to make sure nobody ran out of essential items.

"I have spoken to the lady in charge of the home care team and she said she was prepared to bring her car in and do shopping for those in need," she said.

Tony Henry, chief executive of Yorkshire Co-op, today apologised for any inconvenience the closure would cause and said the refurbished shop would feature a better range of fresh produce and frozen and chilled food.

The current shop in Denholme is about 20 years old, although there has been a Co-op on the site since the turn of the century, and this is its first refit since it was built.

The store will close at 2pm on Friday and re-open at 8am on Thursday, April 29.

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