A TOTAL of £18,000 towards a target of £44,000 has been raised in less than two months since the launch of the share issue to acquire The Book Shop in Crediton High Street.

"We've been bowled over by the level of support the community is giving us," said Ken McKechnie, the chairman of the committee trying to save The Book Shop from closure.

He added: "We now have more than 60 shareholders in addition to a similar number who had already pledged their support as volunteers.

"This surely demonstrates that Crediton is putting its money as well as its mouth behind keeping a bookshop in the town, and shows what community enterprise can do. And it's not just Crediton people who are backing us.

"Thanks to our gift voucher scheme for shares, which got generous coverage in a national newspaper, we also have shareholders in Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, Germany and France."

Special gift vouchers will soon be available for Valentine's Day. "If your loved one loves books, why not buy them a bit of a bookshop?" said Mr McKechnie.

The committee is also delighted to have secured a grant of £1,500 from the Devon County Councillors' Locality Budgets, with the support of Cllrs Nick Way and Michael Lee.

This money will be used to support the launch costs of the enterprise, which up to now have been paid from the pockets of committee members.

"This comes as a vital vote of support," added Ken, who continued: "Raising money from grants is not easy, and money which we can use towards our basic expenses is particularly hard to find."

Cllr Way commented: "I see it not just as a way of us putting our weight behind what the community is showing it wants, but also of supporting enterprise on the High Street."

The level of support shown has given the committee confidence to go ahead with plans to recruit a part-time manager, who will take over running The Book Shop when current owner Jill Holden retires in the spring.

Details of the post are available on the Crediton Community Bookshop website (http://www.creditoncommunitybookshop.co.uk">www.creditoncommunitybookshop.co.uk), which also has full details of the share issue, and how to buy shares.

The website is also being regularly updated with progress reports and plans. There will be an event on February 4 for volunteers to contribute their ideas for developing the Community Bookshop, and to get to know each other.

Further activities are also planned to ensure that the funding target is reached.

Mr McKechnie added: "While we are thrilled by the progress we have made so far, this is no time to rest on our laurels.

"We are very conscious that although our progress is excellent, we still have more than half the money to raise.

"We urge everyone who has not yet done so to go to our website, learn about our plans and help make them happen by buying some shares while the opportunity remains open.

"One share, priced £20, gives its owner as much right to have their say as the biggest shareholder. So as well as helping to give an independent bookshop a new lease of life in community ownership, the shareholder will have a genuine stake in the business."

The Community Bookshop has attracted the support of well-known literary figures. Dame Babette Cole, Mal Peet, Michael Morpurgo and William Trevor have all agreed to be Patrons of the enterprise.

The bookshop committee has received business support in making its plans from Lorna Turner of Exeter-based business consultancy The Fruit Tree for Business, and from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, a free service delivering specialist advice for community-owned enterprises, developed by the Co-operative Group.

For a copy of the share offer document or for more information visit: http://www.creditoncommunitybookshop.co.uk">www.creditoncommunitybookshop.co.uk email [email protected]">[email protected], visit The Book Shop at 100 High Street, or telephone 01363 774740.