When it opens it will be a shop run by the people, for the people and of the people, and is tipped to be the saviour of two villages.

The people of Freshford and Limpley Stoke near Bath have waged a fierce battle to open their own store, cafe and post-office and revitalise their communities. Building work on the Freshford shop project next to the village hall may start as early as next month.

The dream of the community venture was born when the owners of the village shop and post office in Freshford announced their intention to sell and retire after 20 years.

This presented a bitter blow to the area, as Limpley Stoke had lost its shop three years before.

Fearful Freshford, Limpley Stoke and the surrounding hamlets would become sleeper settlements, cut off from amenities, villagers rallied to form a business plan to revitalise the community.

Now known as the Galleries Shop, the project was granted planning permission in March after a number of setbacks, although the final decision rests with Local Government Minister Baroness Andrews because it conflicts with the local plan blueprint.

Shop project spokesman Gitte Dawson said final planning permission was imminent, the scheme had gone out to tender and the committee was awaiting quotes from four builders.

She said: "We hope building might start just before Christmas. It should not take too long, so it is hoped the shop might open its doors by May or June. It has taken us two- and-a-half years to get to this point so it is pretty exciting.

"Residents have repeatedly expressed their full support for the plans."

When it is open the shop will have a full-time paid manager but will largely be run by volunteers from the villages.

With them will lie the responsibility of keeping the shop open longer, deciding what stock to order and launching any extra products and services.

They plan to use a reverse credit scheme under which, for the first two years residents will commit to spending a certain amount in the shop through a monthly standing order.

They will then be able to use that money when they visit the shop.

Mrs Dawson said: "This is to ensure the shop gets off to a good start, with everyone using it; so that it may quickly establish a successful range of goods and services which really meet the needs of the community."

Hordes of villagers turned up to a tasting evening last month to offer their views on the items the shop should stock.

The emphasis will be on local produce, with wine, beer, bread and cheese from nearby suppliers all on offer, but the shop's committee will carry a survey of what exactly customers.

The group has already been instrumental in saving post office services for the village.

The land, valued at £20,000, has been donated to the project and so far the group has been awarded £90,000 in Government funding, plus a further £20,000 grant and a £20,000 low-interest loan.