A village shop that only re-opened when the community rallied round four years ago is under threat once again.

Cheriton Post Office and Stores, in the centre of Cheriton, near Alresford, may be forced out of business because a bridge closure in the village is damaging trade, said owner Charlie Cousens.

Although there was no immediate danger, he said that if business did not pick up, he would "have to take a serious look at what to do".

Work started on the bridge, over the River Itchen near the B3046, last week. But already Mr Cousens has noticed that fewer customers are walking through the door.

"The run-up to Christmas should be one of our busiest times. These last weeks of November are always a little bit slow, but not to this extent," he said.

"I am here seven days a week and I can tell - trade has dropped off."

He said customers now had to travel round the village and battle through school traffic to reach the shop. "It's only a matter of minutes, but it's just the inconvenience," he said.

The bridge was due to be closed for nine weeks, but bad weather delayed the start.

Mr Cousens said he thought it was a "silly time of year" to carry out bridge repairs, and said he would be seeking compensation from Hampshire County Council.

Cheriton Parish Council has taken up the shop's cause and will be encouraging people to use the store while the bridge is closed.

Vice-chairman, Penny Scott, said: "The shop is vital in a place like this, especially for people who don't have cars. There's not an awful lot we can do to help except encourage people to use the shop."

She added that when former shop owners sold up and left nearly five years ago, it was "horrid".

The store was closed for about five months, she said, and people suddenly realised how much they relied on it.

The community rallied round, advertising and interviewing potential owners and eventually settled on Mr Cousens and his father-in-law, Martin Hubbard.

Mr Cousens said: "The villagers wanted to know what our intentions were - they didn't want a big company to come in and try to take over. They've been very supportive since we opened and popped in all the time. That's what we've lost at the moment."

A Hampshire County Council transport spokeswoman said Mr Cousens would not receive any cash to help the shop stay open.

"We don't have any powers to pay compensation because it's a temporary road closure. We have left a parking space nearby but we do appreciate it's less convenient for shoppers."

She added that the council was "sympathetic," and said the roadworks were due to be finished by Christmas.