MANAGERS, staff and volunteers have celebrated five years of Milland Stores and Cafe.

The award-winning community shop was opened by the village’s own celebrity resident Hugh Bonneville on December 3, 2011 – and has since become the hub of the village.

Barry Blacker, one of the store’s directors, paid tribute to the many people who have been responsible for its success over the years, including managers Kriszta Sloan, Ted Wright and Izzy Fraser.

He pointed out that the store had become a template and shining example for other communities and that after just four months of operation was awarded the prize for best community initiative at the Life in Petersfield awards.

The store held its first successful Christmas bazaar as part of an initiative to raise funds to help replace shop equipment.

Throughout the day more than 250 visitors browsed through an eclectic mix of carefully selected stalls offering an abundance of Christmas gift ideas, including toys, specialist gin, festive food and drinks, as well as a “Boutique in a Bus”.

As a special treat, Santa made an appearance at the event and a constant stream of excited children were able to pay him a visit in his grotto.

The community store is a non-profit-making operation with “Friends of the Shop” putting together fundraising events throughout the year.