Only shop in one of UK's smallest villages to close its doors for last time ever this weekend

Phillip and Lucy Payne have run Mersham Stores and Post Office in Mersham, Kent, for more than eight years - but they're closing it tomorrow as they were unable to renew the lease

The only shop in one of the smallest villages in the country is closing its doors for the last time ever tomorrow, its owners have confirmed.

Phillip Payne and his wife Lucy have run Mersham Stores and Post Office in Mersham, near Ashford, Kent, for more than eight years - but have been unable to renew their lease on the property, meaning the shop will cease to trade as of midday on Sunday. The shop owners said they are "devastated" to close the store which has become a "big part of the community" in the little village.

The couple are now planning to move to Yorkshire and take over another village shop there. However, Mr Payne said both he and his wife are "incredibly sad" to leave Mersham.

The 51-year-old told Kent Online: "It's not something we wanted to do, but we haven't been able to renew the lease. We have loved our time in the village and have had such a great relationship with our customers.

"We're just truly grateful for everybody who has supported us over the years." Addressing the decision to move to Yorkshire, Mr Payne said: "We are opening a small village shop in the Yorkshire Dales and hope to replicate what we built here in Kent. I want to thank all of our amazing customers. We are really going to miss them. It's been a privilege to be a part of this community."

Shoppers have also been left disappointed at the news, as one wrote: "Very sad to read this. Such a wonderful shop and very lovely people. All the best for the future." Another added: "Sadly the loss of village shops in traditional small villages has been the downfall of community life in such places.

"The village shop is where people passed the time of day, people got to know any new neighbours and they were a lifeline for older people who couldn't access larger shops in towns or just wanted to get out and have a chat with someone. Now villages without shops are just somewhere to live; inhabitants go to work and come home, go elsewhere for their shopping and probably don't have much to do with other villagers; other than their immediate neighbours (if that)."

It is believed the owner of the building is now looking for alternative tenants to take on the shop, after Ashford Borough Council (ABC) listed the store as an asset of community value (ACV) last month. An ACV is a building or other land whose "main use has recently been or is presently used to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and could do so in the future." The move allows community groups to protect assets from being sold to private owners - and if the owner of the building wants to sell, they need to notify the local authority.