HUNDREDS of people visited Clevedon’s community bookshop during its first day of opening on Saturday.

Children’s author Jillie Mahoney cut the ribbon to the shop in Copse Road at noon while more than 50 people watched on.

Set up by residents keen to keep a bookshop in the town, the Clevedon Community Bookshop Co-operative (CCBC) allowed people to buy shares in the project and help raise the money needed to fund the �20,000 start-up costs.

Up to 400 people are thought to have visited the shop throughout Saturday, with more people signing up to become members, taking the total to more than 500.

With the aim of creating a sustainable social enterprise, any money generated will be used to cover costs as well as to put on author readings, new book launches, poetry sessions and other workshops.

Speaking after the opening, CCBC chairman Tony Billinghurst said: “We were overwhelmed really. It couldn’t have gone better.

“We had a massive amount of interest from the people of Clevedon.

“The future depends on our sales but the evidence suggests people will be coming in.”

For more details visit www.clevedoncommunitybookshop.coop