TWO village shops in West Devon listed for closure could receive grants of up to £5,000 a year from Devon County Council.

Since the closure list for Devon was published by the Post Office, Devon county and district councils, with other partners, have been fighting hard on behalf of local communities to save the services.

The council has identified 12 communities in Devon where the viability of the only shop in the village is thrown into question as a result of losing its direct links with Post Office Ltd. These include Chillaton and Milton Abbot stores.

Steve Haigh, who owns the shop in Chillaton, said: 'This grant will tip the balance between this shop continuing to stay in business, and it folding.

'Removing the post office services effectively takes away about half of our business.

'Although we would have had to carry on as best we can, this grant makes the prospect a much more viable option.'

In some cases the partners' persistence has paid off, with communities getting a better outcome than they might otherwise have received.

But where Post Office Ltd has agreed to close services with no alternative, Devon County Council has not been able to help.

Post Office Ltd has in some cases agreed to 'partner' services with local shop owners, allowing post office counters to remain in some village shops.

The disadvantage of a partnered service from the point of the shop owner is that they will no longer receive a salary from Post Office Ltd and the remuneration for providing the service is minimal.

Shop owners have expressed a keen interest in the council's support, and officers have made initial contact to start a dialogue.

Cllr Brian Berman, the council's executive member for communities, said: 'For many small communities the local shop is the hub of the village, providing far more than just basic groceries.

'Lifelines like these can make all the difference to older people without their own transport or where public transport is limited.

'That is why, having tried our hardest to get the best outcomes from Post Office Ltd, we now want to support these village shops to help them continue running post office services for their communities.'

The council is offering these shops grants of up to £5,000 per year for up to three years, together with free business advice.

By supporting these shops over three years, the council's aim is for them to become viable and sustainable in the long term.

l Post Office Ltd this week announced its decision on the future of the Devon and Cornwall mobile service which currently operates from Tavistock visiting 19 locations in both counties.

Lamerton and Clearbrook will be replaced with a home outreach service whereby people can place an order with a post office branch or receive a once a week visit from a member of staff, but services in Peter Tavy, Buckland Monachorum and Milton Combe will cease.

The mobile service was withdrawn because of insufficient customer usage, said the Post Office.