A MOTHER of two is aiming to breath life into a rural community by reopening a village store.

Julie Thompson admits she will be bucking the trend of stores having to close, but is convinced she has the right ingredients to make a success of the business.

It was more than ten years ago that the village shop at Satley, near Tow Law, closed, leaving villagers having to travel miles to Lanchester, Consett or Tow Law to do their shopping.

Julie and her husband bought the premises and the house next door a year ago, and for six months they lived in a caravan while it was renovated. The shop will be opening on Saturday, July 1.

"I find it all a bit scary and it will be a bit of a gamble," said Julie, who previously worked helping students with their accommodation at Durham University.

"But as soon as we moved into the house, villagers started asking us when we will be reopening the shop, so the need is there."

Apart from providing a retail service for the village and the many farms and private houses dotted around it, Julie aims to make the store "the social point of community life".

"I hope that people will enjoy a good old natter when they come to shop. I aim to make it as a real village store - the kind that was around when I was a young girl."

Julie is starting the business with financial backing from the Countryside Agency and Derwentside District Council.