Craig Hughes and his partner Vikki Birtwhistle both turned 40 this year so Craig says: “It was the ideal time to start a new chapter.”

That meant taking over Houghton’s village shop and post office. The couple had lived in the village for 15 years and their eight-year-old son Harry is at the village primary school, and both had worked in corporate travel before. “This is a new challenge,” Craig adds.

But it wasn’t a completely new departure. “Vikki had worked in the shop part-time for three years. I’ve had 20 years’ retail experience in the motor industry,” he explains.

“Vikki was born in a shop and my parents had a shop. So it was in our blood.”

And Craig doesn’t unduly fear the giant supermarkets not far away on Scotland Road. “We have a core of loyal customers from the village who use us regularly, and people from further afield. Having the post office in the shop helps the footfall.”

A newspaper or magazine costs the same anywhere of course – it’s no cheaper from a supermarket – and Craig adds: “Some of our products are cheaper than the supermarkets.”

In their first two months in charge they have introduced some new lines. “We’ve got different ranges of sausages, more fresh veg, we’ve increased the number of alcoholic and soft drinks and condiments.

“We have a few ideas of what we want to do. With the leaflets that go through people’s doors, we are putting in an insert asking them what they want to see in the shop, and if we get enough requests for certain things we will stock them. We want people’s feedback.”

He likes the new job, he adds. “It’s enjoyable work. There’s lots going on and you meet so many different people.”