A FORMER employee of a recently-closed newsagent has agreed to take on its delivery service amid fears elderly and housebound villagers could lose out.

Weston Mercury: Janice and Kevin Cumming delivery the Weston Mercurys.Janice and Kevin Cumming delivery the Weston Mercurys. (Image: Archant)

Janice Cumming, aged 63, worked at Village News in Congresbury precinct for almost nine years before it closed earlier this month.

Its demise meant 230 villagers were no longer receiving their daily or weekly newspapers until Janice and her 68-year-old husband Kevin agreed to take on the delivery rounds.

The pair have been out speaking to customers to see whether they want to continue the service and received an overwhelmingly positive response.

A Wrington newsagent did offer to take on the rounds but customers would have been charged three times as much because of the mileage involved.

Mrs Cumming said the small local supermarkets opted against maintaining the delivery routes, meaning hundreds would lose out.

She said: “The previous owners I think were upset because they thought they were letting their customers down.

“There are some of the customers that are desperate for their newspapers.

“We have quite a lot of elderly people in the village and they are relying on their families to get it for them, especially when it has been snowy recently.”

More than a dozen paperboys and girls who were facing the axe have also been taken on again.

Mrs Cumming added: “We have gone around to speak to many of the customers and at the moment we have about 130 people signed up so far.

“Because I have bought the rounds from the newsagents several of the paperboys are happy to have their rounds back.

“It is good for them and gives them a start on the employment ladder.”

The couple will be running the small business from their home in Hill Park. Anyone interesting in getting involved can contact them on 01934 833041.