THE owners of a shop, cafe and post office in a picturesque village near Carlisle have put it on the market.

John and Diane Shaw have run Wetheral Stores, the post office and Posting Pot cafe for the last five years.

But the intrepid pair have decided to to put their home and business on the market.

John, a retired police officer, said: "We want to go travelling and spend more time with each other."

The couple are at the hub of the community in Wetheral.

John, 56, said: "We love what we do and we have some lovely customers.

"To run a business like this you have to be community minded and you've got to be very approachable. We help a lot of people as well as keep the business going and we've made some great friends along the way."

Diane, 53, looks after the cafe side of the business and has been nominated several times in the Carlisle Living awards.

"There is an outside seating area, which is popular in the summer," said John.

"The village itself has good amenities - a doctor, dentist, restaurant, hotel with leisure club, train station, pub, village hall to name but a few.

"It's just a really nice place to be."

Tavistock House and the business is being marketed by Carigiet Cowen.

Ben Blain from Carigiet Cowen said: "It’s quite a rare property to come on to the market."

The property is on the market for £475,000.

The particulars state: "Over the last five years the current owners have continued to generate high turnover figures for the shop and post office as well as achieving an increase in turnover figures for the cafe over the last couple of years.

"The consistent high levels of turnover demonstrate that both businesses continue to thrive from this trading location within the village."