Down Ampney news by Melanie Fouracre

TEDDIES have been appearing in windows all around Down Ampney as part of a Teddy Bear hunt for village youngsters.

Village children are encouraged to see how many teddy bears they can spot on their daily walk around the village with mum & dad; (whilst keeping appropriate distances apart and not entering any gardens).

NEW opening hours for the village shop and the post office due to COVID-19 are as follows: shop - mornings 9am to noon only (one shopper at a time allowed in the shop to meet social distancing requirements).

Post Office - now only available on Tuesday mornings from 9am to noon.

THE cafe has been closed, and there will be no on-premises eating or drinking, although takeaway drinks will remain available for consumption outside at an appropriate distance.

There will be no in-store baking, although items will remain available for villagers to buy and cook at home.

The shop no longer wishes to handle coins, nor will it sell small miscellaneous items by card, so villagers are being asked to support the shop by setting up an account, which can be pre-charged with a minimum of £5, against which shoppers can charge their newspapers or other shopping.

Villagers are asked to bear with shop volunteers whilst these accounts are being set up.

Anyone in the village who is being helped with deliveries will be obliged to have an account with the shop so that deliverers are not collecting payments at the front door.

Anyone who now finds themselves at home in the village and able to volunteer for a few hours a week to help keep stock levels up at the village shop, should make themselves known to any member of the shop committee or email: shop@downampneyvillageshop.co.uk

OTHER village amenities have been closed to safeguard residents as follows: Tennis courts, children’s playground and the Multi Use Games Area.

THE Down Ampney News has been suspended for April and may continue to be so whilst the current crisis continues.

Villagers should check village notice boards, the village website www.downampneyvillage.co.uk, and Facebook page for any updates.

ARTISTS can still share art work on the Down Ampney Arts & Crafts Circle Facebook page, now that the circle’s meetings have been cancelled for the foreseeable future.

ALL Saints’ Church is also closed for the time being.

Sunday services are being broadcast over the internet and can be found at www.CHQChurches.net on the ‘Worship at Home’ page.

Church community members are still serving the wider community and neighbours as best they can.

Anyone needing any help can call the Rector, the Rev’d Canon John Swanson on 01285 851309.