It was all hands to the pump for staff at the grand opening of a new village store in Castle Acre, near Swaffham.

Rebuilding work on the Spar store in Foxes Meadow started in May and the event on Saturday, December 16 welcomed friends and supporters to the shop with food samples, mince pies, mulled wine, tea and coffee, a raffle draw, and face painting.

Sam Bisla and her husband Rash Singh have been in business in Castle Acre for 10 years.

They applied for planning permission five years ago to rebuild and improve their existing shop, as well as to build a fish and chip unit next door, which should be ready to open next February.

Ms Bisla said: 'We have had great support from the village during the building process and they have been looking forward to having a decent village shop and the addition of a fish and chip shop.

'Castle Acre is such a beautiful village and we are honoured to call this home. Over the last 10 years we have made some wonderful friends who continue to support us in this venture.

'It gives us pleasure to serve them and be a part of their daily routine. They have been so supportive and it is great to have them all here on our opening day to celebrate with us.'

She added: 'Saturday was a cold but dry and sunny day and we all enjoyed tea, coffee, mince pies, party food, mulled wine, wines, and a whisky or two to keep warm.

'We held a colouring competition for the kids and had a face painter and all the kids enjoyed a party bag of goodies.

'It's been a fantastic day and we wish all our customers a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.'

The couple, who have two children, Jasmin, nine, and Jaydon, five, both come from business backgrounds with her parents running shops in King's Lynn and her in-laws running fish and chip shops in the area.

They both love being part of the village community and helping the elderly with their shopping, they added.