FALFIELD’S shop and post office is getting a new lease of life – from its original owners.

Adrian Shackell has taken the helm of the shop he grew up in, after more than a decade away from the village.

The 47-year-old can now be found behind the counter of the Falfield Post Office and General Store which his father originally opened in the 1960s.

Mr Shackell was even born in the original shop premises on the A38.

The family story began in 1966, when his father Roy opened the shop he would run for almost 40 years.

The shop was housed within the family home until 1980, when they built a purpose built site next door.

Mr Shackell worked alongside his father until his ill health forced the sale of the shop in 2002.

Since then the retailer has worked at stores in Tetbury and Bristol, but after moving to Thornbury, the Falfield site was never far from Mr Shackell’s thoughts.

“We saw the place was for sale and I knew it had been on the market for a while,” he told the Gazete. “My plans are to get it back to where it was.”

He said he’s now happy to have the family premises back and is working to restore it to its previous condition.

This includes restocking the shop with new brands and products and giving everywhere a lick of paint.

The second and even third generations have a busy future ahead of them – Mr Shackell will is managing the Post Office, his wife Ann, 44, the shop and their children Declan, 17, and Chloe, 14, are helping out whenever they can.

Open seven days a week, the revamped community shop is housing essential items as well as a more diverse range of products, including fresh fruit and vegetables and requests made my customers.

The proprietor said there had been a positive reaction in the surrounding community as old regulars welcomed the Shackells back to Falfield.

He said: "There have been lots of customers coming in who haven't been in for years."