WOODGREEN came alive at the weekend as thousands of visitors poured into the rural idyll for its first Open Village.

Scores of gardens opened their garden gates for the event, visitors were taken on woodland tours and horse-training events captivated the crowds.

A band of volunteers of the Woodgreen Village Shop organised the event as part of its fundraising campaign to build a new village shop.

To date the committee has raised £273,000 towards the £323,315 and need a further £42,000 before the build can take place.

Organiser Sue Alpress said: “It was a fantastic day, the weather was perfect and the village was full for the whole day.

“Everyone looked as though they were enjoying themselves.”

The build is expected to start at the end of July and will include a delivery area, stock and staff room, a dry cleaning area, bakery and toilet.

The car park will accommodate 11 vehicles with two bays for wheelchair users and have an outside seating area with a vending machine.

It will have a 25-year renewable lease and the committee will pay just a peppercorn rent.

Residents from Woodgreen and surrounding villages rallied to buy shares and donate cash to buy the shop and post office. There are currently 470 shareholders.