A rural post office on Speyside that was feared to be shut permanently has reopened under new owners.
The roadside shop in Ballindalloch, which is the only one serving the remote community, closed its doors in the run-up to Christmas last year prompting concerns that it may never return.
But nearly eight months after it was locked up, the “lifeline” store is now open once again under new management – bringing back banking services and fuel sales to the rural community.
New owners Dolina and Eddie Thomson have moved back to Moray from West Lothian, where they lived for nearly 30 years, to run the shop.
Mrs Thomson, who previously worked in post offices in Elgin and Aberlour, said the emotional sight of seeing it being “neglected” had prompted her to take possession of the keys.
The petrol station and convenience store, which sits on the Highland tourist route from Aberdeen to Aviemore and Inverness as well as the NE250 trail, has long been popular with overseas tourists as well as locals.
Mrs Thomson said: “Sadness at seeing the shop so neglected was what got us involved. It was just sitting here with nothing going on.
“All the years it was open it was a great going shop. It’s important to the local people who have had to drive about 10 miles to Aberlour or Grantown just to put petrol in the car.
“It’s very popular with visitors too though. We were very busy with Thunder in the Glens at the weekend. Just seeing it sitting there was awful.”
A limited post office service had been run in the shop since December with staff travelling from Forres in an attempt to retain the branch for any potential new owners.
However, fears persisted in the area that the store may be shut for good before an outpouring of support when the new owners moved in.
Mrs Thomson added: “The first day we were open we were really busy, it was mainly people just delighted we had took it on. There were people coming from all over – Tomintoul ,Tormore and Cromdale.
“It’s been all-go since with having to get one of the petrol pumps fixed. The biggest problem though has been finding suppliers who can deliver to us.”
Speyside Glenlivet councillor Derek Ross welcomed the restoration of services for local residents.
He said: “These types of things are lifelines for rural communities. It was sad when the shop closed but it’s really good to see it reopening.”