A CENTURIES-old village pub in North Yorkshire has taken on a new role - as the local shop.

Michael Ibbotson, enterprising landlord and owner of The Durham Ox, in the beauty spot village of Crayke, near Easingwold, has created the shop in what was an unused area at the entrance to the pub.

He said it was also benefiting several other small businesses in the area because a large amount of what was sold, including beef, lamb, pies, vegetables, sausages, mushrooms and preserves, was produced locally.

Mr Ibbotson, who is a former Ampleforth College student, went into the catering business after being trained at the Westminster Hotel School.

He said: "Most village pubs cannot survive on just selling drink".

Meanwhile, former outbuildings at The Durham Ox , which were originally part of a farm that was run with the pub, have been converted into holiday accommodation.

Dorothy Muir, head of the Village Retail Services Association in the North of England, which gives help and advice to village shopkeepers, said "I knew Crayke wanted a shop and I am delighted the Durham Ox has taken the initiative because I am sure it will be a real asset to the community."