THE mayor of Holsworthy visited the new Mole Valley Farmers store last week, where he was presented with £100 of vouchers.

Mayor Cllr John Allen, one of those who negotiated the reopening of the town’s youth centre with Devon County Council, has given the vouchers to the youth club. They will be used by the club to develop a garden there.

Cllr Allen said of the youth club: “It is a great project and we are always looking for support.

“Community Action Through Sport (CATS) are doing a good job, without them we couldn’t have got it going again.”

MVF director Brian Jennings gave Cllr Allen, a tour of the new store. Wessex Pantry and Farmers Tom’s Dairy Ice Cream also attended, and both donated money from sales to the North Devon Hospice. Mole Valley Farmers actively support the hospice, which has recently opened The Long House in Holsworthy.

Cllr Allen added: “It was pleasing to see Mole Valley had the confidence to invest £1-million to this project in Holsworthy, which will give security of jobs to people who work there and attract more people into town. We wish them well.”

The new store held a weekend of celebrations on?September 26/27.

David Nias, Holsworthy’s operations manager said: “It was amazing – there were queues right back to the road by 8.30 on both days and we must have welcomed thousands of local people.

“There was a real party atmosphere, with 300 giveaways, free barbecue, refreshments and ice creams; amazing competitions and live demonstrations of both cattle handling systems and solar panels. ”