A VILLAGE store that was re-opened after being forced to close for nine months celebrated its first birthday with a cake competition. On Saturday the volunteers who run Tewin Stores marked the year in style offering buy-one-get-one-free treats and giving

A VILLAGE store that was re-opened after being forced to close for nine months celebrated its first birthday with a cake competition.

On Saturday the volunteers who run Tewin Stores marked the year in style offering buy-one-get-one-free treats and giving customers free tea and coffee.

Highlight of the day, however, was an adult and junior cake competition.

The winning adult design was of a basket of goodies you can buy from the Hertford Road shop, which even contained a replica WHT paper!

A design of the store itself was the winning children's design.

The shop originally shut down in May 2007 when its owners could no longer afford to keep it going.

But it was brought back to life in February last year by villagers and the The Tewin Stores Association, which pumped �12,000 into the project.

Volunteer Brenda Barber said they kept the store open an additional three hours on Saturday, from 8.30am until 3pm.

"It was brilliant day, it was beautiful weather and we sold the winning cake for �10, which was great, as it goes towards the aid of a new tea room opening later this year."

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