A VILLAGE might lose its Post Office and shop if a buyer isn't found for it soon.

Upton Cross Post Office and Stores has been owned by David and Jane Roberts for more than eight years.

They sold everything and moved to Cornwall from the Midlands to give their three children a better quality of life.

However, an increasing downturn in their trade means that unless they find a buyer, they will have to close the village's only shop this year.

'We love it here as a family,' said sub postmaster David, who was just 39 when he took on the shop which serves Linkinhorne parish.

'We are part of the community and the children have been through Upton Cross Primary School and are now at Callington Community College. 

'We gradually built the business up but the recession, people's change in shopping habits, and the Callington Tesco have all taken their toll.'

David said they don't expect people to do their weekly big shop at the village store, but if more used it for convenenience goods such as daily bread and milk they would be able to keep going.

'We have about 50 regular customers out of a parish population of about 2,000 people which is pretty poor really,' he said.

'I am working 80 hours a week for no return. All our takings go straight back into stock just to keep the door open. If things don't pick up in the next six months, and we can't find a buyer, we will have no alternative but to shut up shop for good.

'We wouldn't be able to afford the mortgage and would have to move out of our home.

'The loss of the village Post Office and store would be a shame for Upton Cross, especially some of my elderly customers who rely on us, and who we look out for.'

David added that he actually put the business on the market about five years ago but has not been able to sell.

'It was at a time when the shop was doing reasonably well, and I was making improvements and building up trade, but Jane wanted me to find employment rather than be a sub postmaster and shopkeeper, because it took too many hours out of family life,' he said.

'We have always loved Cornwall and it was our dream to bring the family up here, but at the time there weren't many jobs around, so we bought the shop instead.

'We want to stay here but it looks like I will have to shut the door, and find a job unless the local community uses our shop more.

'It is the case here of "use it or lose it". I tell villagers a closure is not a threat, it's a promise.

'We are not just here for when it snows!'