THREE months into opening a satellite post office and other community facilities in Exbourne, the group at the helm is celebrating making its first £1,000.

The success of the post office and 'First Class' cafe in the village hall has got members of the Exbourne and Jacobstowe Community Initiative focusing on their bigger aim of having a permanent facility in the community.

Exbourne's post office and stores, which was also a delivery point for medication from Okehampton Medical Centre, closed last December when the owners retired without succeeding in finding a buyer.

It was evident, however, from a public meeting that followed that the community wanted to keep such services running.

The community group was formed as a result and their first success was getting the medical deliveries reinstated with the medical centre delivering directly to those in need.

With help from Okehampton Post Office, a satellite sub post office was opened in the village hall on Monday and Friday mornings offering all the usual services.

To raise money to pay for the hire of the hall and offer locals an opportunity to meet and talk, the First Class cafe was opened selling drinks and cakes. In addition cards and stationary are sold and orders taken for bakery deliveries to the hall on both mornings. Special events were also held for Maundy Thursday and the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Press officer for the group Kit Ineson said three months on things were going really well and they had just cleared £1,000 which would be put towards bigger plans for the village.

'We are very grateful to those in the village who supported us so well,' he said. 'But we would welcome support, in any shape or form, from those who have not yet sampled our delights.

'This is just the start and we have not lost sight of our main aim which is a permanent, high quality establishment to provide answers to our main wants — a post office, shop and a communal place run by the village for the village.'

Mr Ineson said this would take time and a lot more money and to this end a whole host of fundraising events were being planned. The first will be a frog race meeting on June 29 and a barn dance will follow later in the year.

A public meeting is being arranged for June 27 in the village hall when new plans will be presented for the community's approval. Applications for funding for different sources will then also be sought.