FEARS are growing that a village shop that closed for a few weeks because of a staffing crisis may be shut for good.

The Co-op store in Wearhead was the only shop in Upper Weardale between St John's Chapel and the Cumbrian border until it closed earlier this month.

Yesterday, bosses admitted they had no date for the business to reopen because they cannot find anyone with retail experience to run it.

John Tompkins, from the Penrith Co-operative Society, said: "We can't say for certain that it will reopen, although we hope it can.

"The only problem is finding staff to man it properly. We have two part-timers, which isn't enough.

"We are trying to figure out the best way to keep it open, but obviously it is staying closed for the moment."

Parish councillor Lesley Blackett said people did not expect the store to reopen. She said: "The consensus of opinion is that now that it has closed it will stay closed.

"It is a shame because it is the only focal point in the village. There are a lot of elderly people who relied on it."

Anyone interested in working in the store should contact John Mills at the company's head office on (01768) 862366.