The village shop has already received national recognition for its services and now its customers, staff and volunteers can be sure they’ll be cool while enjoying the shop.

Customers and those serving them will no longer be sweltering in the heat, thanks to Magna Housing Association.

Broadwindsor Community Stores applied for a grant to help pay for air conditioning at the shop, which has been open for just over a year.

Fraser Hughes, chairman of Broadwindsor and District Community Enterprise, which runs the shop, said: “We are enormously grateful to Magna for the grant.

“Our chillers were struggling to keep the temperatures down in the hot weather. The installation of the air conditioning has made a huge difference and last week resulted in record sales.

“Our customers have also appreciated the cool of the shop.”

The two air conditioning units, which during the winter can also be used to provide heat, were installed by local electrical contractor Shaun Annetts.

Julia Matso, vice-chairman of Magna’s community initiative fund forum, presented a cheque for £2,000 to shop assistant Jane Sloman.

The fund is managed by a group of Magna residents. Each year, £150,000 is given to things that will improve the areas where residents live.

The store, which operates from the old telephone exchange in Drimpton Road, was second in the ‘better services’ category of the UK Rural Ownership Awards run by the Plunkett Foundation.

The awards were held for the first time this year to celebrate the committed teams of people who deliver vital services to their community.