Elton Village Store recognised by North-West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara

A shop has been recognised after its owners took selfless measures to support vulnerable people in the pandemic.

As lockdown forced the country inside, Stephen Higgins and Ravi Mathu, owners of Elton Village Store, decided to close their doors to focus on delivering to the elderly.

Despite the challenge of 15 hour days and forcing some customers to shop elsewhere, the couple made it their priority to ensure those most at risk had all the essentials, with free home delivery.

Stephen said: “The shop was overrun with people and we knew the people in the village who needed us most wouldn’t be able to get anything.”

North-West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara (Con) has thanked them through his Community Champion Award.

“We are happy but a bit overwhelmed,” said Stephen.

“We didn’t realise we were nominated until we found out we were a recipient.”

“We are very grateful, especially after the last couple of years it makes us feel valued,” said Stephen.

As well as delivering from their stock, the pair purchased additional items which villagers needed from supermarkets and provided hot dinners free of charge.

Stephen said: “Some people didn’t have any family. It was more than a delivery. They needed someone to pack it away and speak to for 10 minutes as that’s the only face they would see.”