A VILLAGE has lost its shop and post office after the owner sold the business to retire after 17 years.

Janet Page closed down Sherborne St John Post Office and Stores on Monday, after struggling to sell it as a shop for six years.

The 57-year-old took over the business in 1999, moving there with her three children from Old Hatch Warren.

She said: “It was my dream. As a little girl I wanted to run a post office and shop and I have achieved my dream. I have enjoyed every minute. I enjoyed the community side of it and I have watched a lot of people come and go and watched children grow up.”

The grandmother said she tried her hardest to sell the business so the village would not lose the facility, but she eventually decided to sell it as a house after gaining permission to change its use.

She said: “Most people fully appreciate the fact that I tried as long as I could to sell it as a shop.

“Ninety-eight per cent of the village appreciate that I have struggled for a long time.

“When this happened and we sold it there were mixed emotions. People are pleased for us and sad for the village.”

Mrs Page had a gathering with villagers on Saturday to mark her retirement, and said: “I have got to know people over the years.

“It’s been lovely, I love the job and the village.

“I came here with my children and I’m going with grandchildren.

“We all get older and life changes. I have met some wonderful people. A lot of these people are now friends, from all different walks of life.”

Mrs Page now plans to live with her daughter for a while before finding somewhere to move to, and she hopes to travel in her retirement.

She said: “The aim is to stop for a while. When you run your own business you don’t get a lot of time. We would like to tour the UK and find somewhere else to live.”