AFTER nine years of tireless fundraising the Underground Shop in Exbourne this week served its first customers.

The Burrow, located in the heart of the village, opened its doors to customers on Monday. The shop will sell grocery goods from local sources and from further afield.

It will also provide villagers with post office services, a café, a book exchange, internet access and a prescription collection point.

Exbourne and Jacobstowe Community Association, the democratically controlled organisation that owns the shop, amassed almost £50,000 for the project through various fundraising events, including quizzes, sales and community markets.

The project also received grants from Devon County Council, the Greater Dartmoor LEAF project, the Trusthouse Foundation, the Tudor Trust and other foundations.

A £90,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food programme last April brought the project to its £320,000 target to get the project up and running.