NEASHAM residents could have the option of reinstating a village shop with a post office, thanks to cash on offer through the Countryside Agency.

There is no school, shop, post office or doctor's surgery in Neasham and residents have to travel to Hurworth for those services.

The Government's new Vital Villages plan to revive rural areas offers grants ranging from £5,000 to £250,000 for schemes to improve community facilities and transport.

The initial reaction at Monday's parish council meeting was to wonder whether it would qualify for cash towards a desperately needed footpath. It would allow pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders to avoid a dangerous stretch of road between Neasham and Hurworth, bridging a gap in the Teesdale Way.

But Lesley Millgate from the Countryside Agency said the council would have to submit a detailed picture of how it would benefit the whole village.

A community services grant of up to £250,000 is available to prop up solitary village businesses such as pubs or garages or to develop child care schemes, internet facilities or youth clubs.

Coun Mike Townend said: "Since the closure of our village shop, a lot of us are getting older and would like to be able to buy a bottle of milk or box of provisions here, instead of travelling to Hurworth."

Mrs Millgate said if they could identify a consortium in the village prepared to support a shop, they could get help from their rural community council.

"It would be quite an exciting thing to do and, if it was not a for profit business, you could reflect that in prices. But it does require a high level of commitment so it is not a flash in the pan."

A private individual would qualify for a 50pc start-up grant.

She pointed out that the Countryside Agency also worked with Post Office Counters. "If you decided to go ahead with this and there was a demand for a post office service, people would come out to talk about it."

She also explained that £5,000 was available towards 75pc of the cost of preparing a parish plan to clarify future needs and use as an action plan to bid for other grants.

Another grant of up to £10,000 is available for transport schemes such as community-run volunteer taxi services to take the elderly to hospital or GP appointments or teenagers to the Dolphin Centre.

All the schemes require match funding in cash or professional services.