A mother and daughter team have restored a once-busy community shop near Corwen after it lay empty for 12 months.

Siop Julie, in Clawdd Poncen, near Corwen, is now thriving again after getting a major makeover and attracts over 200 customers a day.

It was bought earlier this year by Julie Davies and her daughter, Hannah, and now the shelves are full again of daily essentials with plenty of space for as much local produce as they can manage.

Mum of three Julie, who worked across the road at Grace Foods for over 20 years, said: “I had been there for a long time and felt like I needed a new challenge and I always wanted my own business.

“There has always been a shop here in Clawdd Poncen but it had virtually closed so we bought it from Denbighshire County Council and have given it a facelift and built up a wide range of stock.

“We’re proud to stock local whenever we can and we get daily deliveries of bread from Henllan Bakery in Denbigh, sandwiches from across the road at Mama Lou’s, bacon from R G Bacon, milk from W T Roberts and Son in Corwen, Thai food from Llandrillo, vegetables from Llangollen and our eggs from Llandderfel.

“I hadn’t run a business before so it’s been a learning curve but the customers and family support have been brilliant and I know that Clawdd Poncen needs a local shop that people can easily pop in to for some of the essentials.

“It’s in an ideal spot because there are the factories like CF Racing, Ifor Williams Trailers, Meridian and Grace Foods where I worked just across the road and Ysgol Caer Drewyn is just next door.

“It’s great to see people calling in and chatting to each other. Everyone knows each other here and it’s a way of staying in touch.”

Corwen Town Councillor Glaves Roberts said: “It’s just what the community in Clawdd Poncen needed because it’s a long walk or a bus ride into town in all weathers, especially for the older people.

“It also gives the community here a focal point. Somewhere they can meet others and chat and share information because people need a reason to get out of their homes and meet others socially and Siop Julie does that.

“They’ve even got a coffee machine there so you can pick up your paper and read it over a coffee and a chat.

“Julie and Hannah have done a wonderful job in restoring the shop and I am delighted to see it thriving again.”

Customer Oswyn Jones, from nearby Gwyddelwern, said: “I call in two or three times a week. They’ve got a great range of stock and you can always park here and it doesn’t cost you.

“We missed it when it was closed and I’m sure the people around Clawdd Poncen are delighted it’s back open again and doing so well.”

Julie and Hannah have built up the stock and as well as operating the National Lottery they also provide, electricity, gas and mobile phone payments.

Julie added: “We want to increase the amount of local produce we stock so we’re always keen to hear from other producers – ideally we would like as much local food as possible.”