A PARISH council meeting held to discuss security measures following a series of crimes in a village.

The meeting was held in Bishampton last night after the second break in at The Village Shop.

Staff from The Village Shop, Bishampton announced the shop would be closed until the security has been improved following a break in on August 2. This came after another burglary in June when the side window was smashed. After this, the shop’s owner posted on Facebook that they had suffered a “huge financial loss.”

Officers say a 4x4, possibly a Discovery, was used in the burglary.

After the second break in the owners posted a note in the shop window which said: ‘due to suspicious activity and the increase in burglaries in the local area, the shop will be closed until better security is in place.”

Minutes from The Bishampton parish meeting the month said: “The council agreed unanimously that the shop and post office are an important community amenity and the parish council should make within its powers, every reasonable effort to ensure its continuation.”

After the break in in June, the Parish Council agreed to reduce the rent for the Bishampton shop to a peppercorn rent until July 13 2020.

It was also agreed that the parish council would create around four leaflets to promote local businesses including the shop and pub in the hope that this would encourage people to shop locally, to support the local community, as well as reduce their carbon footprint.

Auntea Rita’s Tea Lounge in Flyford Flavell had its front windows smashed on August 3. The tea room is now open after a short closure.

Villagers posted messages of support to the staff online.

Nearby, in Inkberrow the Post Office was also broken into around 1am on Sunday August 11. Damage was caused to the front door.