AN elected representative has welcome the news that a Denbighshire initiative is to gain a funding boost.

The doors of a 180-year old village shop in Llandyrnog will fly open once again to warmly welcome local people after it received a share of money from the UK Government's Community Ownership Fund.

The shop will act as a community hub for the village and support people’s mental health with £200,000 in funding.

It is one of only five projects in Wales to gain funding.

Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has welcomed the announcement.

The £150m Community Ownership Fund is for communities across the United Kingdom, providing people with the opportunity to become owners of at-risk local pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds and corner shops. 

When it was launched, Dr Davies says he encouraged people in the Vale of Clwyd to apply. 

Llandyrnog resident Emyr Morris made an application for funding to purchase and develop the community shop in the village and it has been announced that his application has been successful.

READ MORE: Llandyrnog community hub boosted by £200k of funding

Dr Davies said: “This is absolutely wonderful news.

"Emyr and his team have exciting plans for the shop and I am delighted that he will now be able to proceed with these thanks to the £200,000 they are to receive from the Community Ownership Fund.

“As well as enabling the purchase and reopening of the shop, the money will be used to install a cafe and create a hub for mental health and loneliness services.

“The Community Ownership Fund is part of the UK Government’s plan to build back better from the pandemic by giving communities the power to save the local institutions that foster a sense of community.

“I am confident that the reopening and development of the Llandyrnog community shop will provide that sense of community, and that the facility will be a real asset to the village. 

“I thank Emyr for all his efforts progressing this and congratulate all involved on their success. I have been pleased to assist them along they way and I very much look forward to visiting the shop once it is reopened.” 

Emyr Morris previously said that his decision to try and reopen the shop was driven by the closure of two pub/restaurants, the shop, butcher and the Arla Cheese factory in the village, which he said had left the village “a sorry shadow of its former self”.

A shop selling essential groceries had been open in Llandyrnog since 1841.