A young family has taken on Ye Olde Bakery in Ballasalla.

Despite being very much the internet generation, parents Abby and Nathan Wakefield (aged 28 and 30 respectively) appreciate the importance of the local shop and want theirs to be at the heart of the village.

’We want it so people don’t have to travel outside Ballasalla to get their shopping,’ said Abby.

’We’ve filled the shelves with variety, we’re talking to customers and finding out what they want. Someone couldn’t get cornflour, for example so we’ve got cornflour. We want people to feel part of our family too.’

Abby and Nathan moved with their four children, Jason 11, Molly, eight, Grace, four, and Charlie, eight months to their new home in Clagh Vane, the estate just behind the shop, a few weeks ago.

Before this, knowing they were moving to the village, they decided to wander round the village after a family lunch at the Whitestone in October and walked into Ye Olde Bakery. ’We saw the potential,’ said Abby. ’As we were walking out of the shop we saw the "to let" notice.

’I said we should ask about it, you never know what’s going to happen. We chatted [with the shop owners] and it happened from there.’

As the childhood sweethearts have four children Abby has been busy parenting.

Nathan has worked his way up in retail, from stacking shelves at Tesco to being store manager at Boots Opticians, giving him plenty of experience to manage the new venture.

For Abby, nee Quirk, this is something of a homecoming as her family is from Port St Mary for many generations.

Nathan also has family in the south. Wider family support is a big reason the south has extra appeal.

’We love it down south,’ said Abby. ’It’s a great community, so friendly.’