Bookshop owners astonished by £5k repair donations

The owners of a community bookshop said they have been stunned by £5,000 in donations to help repair a large hole in its roof.

Jo and Lionel Ward said "relentless rain" had caused damage to Brendon Books in Taunton, Somerset.

An online crowdfunder set up on their behalf reached 93% of its £5,000 target in just 48 hours.

Lionel, who also organises the annual Taunton Literary Festival, said the support for the 37-year-old shop was "heartwarming", adding that without the donations, running it would have become "very difficult".

"It's just extraordinary how generous people have been – we were absolutely blown away by it, really," Lionel said.

He said he and Jo had decided to run the shop as a community interest company "because we felt we'd been a part of the community for so long, and we've become friends with lots of people".

He said: "Lots of our customers are friends and we try and help local authors and support them."

He said that, without the donations, he and Jo may "have struggled" and resorted to borrowing the money.

Susie Thomas, who runs a nearby store and is a proponent of the town's independent shopping scene, set up the crowdfunder.

She said: "To me it was a no-brainer... not every town is lucky enough to have an independent bookshop any more."

Thomas said the shop does "so much more for the town", adding: "We need to look after them."

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