The ever-increasing supermarket monopoly means rural butchers, bakers and other traders have been forced to shut up shop because they can no longer afford to stay open.

The heart of the village is lost and with it a sense of community life.

Village residents often have to rely on neighbouring towns for their supplies.

This makes life increasingly difficult for older people and those without cars.

However, some Sussex villages are taking action to stop the rot.

There are already eight communityled shops across the county and 160 in Britain, with more being set up.

Alan Wyle, retail adviser for the charity Action In Rural Sussex, said six more villages in Sussex have expressed an interest in running their own shop.

Mr Wyle said: "I think community shops are the future when a village wants to retain or even rebuild its community spirit. With supermarkets wanting everybody's business, community shops can buck the dominance of the big stores.

"The perception is everything is much cheaper and fresher in a supermarket, which is not true. We need to convince the shops' customers of this. I think all small shops should advertise. We should talk about food yards and not food miles."

Mr Wyle revealed he has even been approached by people in Hammersmith, London, because residents miss the ability to shop locally.

Laughton Village Stores
When the shop in Laughton near Lewes was repossessed the residents in the village set up the Laughton Village Shop Association.

Thanks to a loan from a benefactor and interest free loans from other residents they managed to buy back the shop.

Former association secretary Cynthia Moth said: "There were about ten movers and shakers who drove the project forwards.

"We decided to get tenants to run the shop. At first it was touch and go. But the committee didn't give up and we got Robert and Ami Reece to take over and it's gone from strength to strength."

Mr Reece, who has been running the shop for about ten years, said he already had two shops of his own nearby - one in Firle and the other in Ripe.

The association lets the shop to the couple at a low rent. The store also has a post office.

Mr Reece said: "We get lots of passing trade. There's a big lay-by so we get lorry drivers and workmen who stop by. We do hot pies every morning which we buy from a local farm.

"We try to sell as much local produce as we can get hold of. We get our milk from less than half-a-mile away which means the price is comparable with supermarket prices. My fruit and veg is competitive too."

Customer Peter Waring said: "It's much quicker and far less intimidating to come in here and shop than go to Tesco. We do our weekly shop here."

The association received a grant for the shop to open an internet café in 2002. It is housed in a former storeroom and as well as computers holds the ovens where Mr Reece heats the pies.

Slinfold Village Stores
When the couple who ran Slinfold Village Stores, near Horsham, reached retirement age and tried to sell their business they were unsuccessful.

Residents soon realised that without the shop the centre of the village would die and so in 2002 they formed the Slinfold Village Shop Association.

Janice Deller, who was recruited by the association as manager in July, said the shop is growing in popularity.

She said: "It's such a lovely village and I run the shop with the help of willing volunteers. We've got a post office within the shop which I don't run because I'd rather do one job well than two badly.

"I try to get seasonal things like purple sprouting broccoli at the moment.

I use local suppliers and I buy my meat locally."

Steve Grundy, chairman of the association, said: "The majority of the village supports the shop. If we don't use it then the current tenant won't be able to stay.

"Luckily our post office isn't one of the ones earmarked to be closed."

Initially the community had to raise £120,000. The majority of the money came from the residents in the form of gifts and loans. Mr Grundy said: "We now owe less than £30,000 and when it's paid off we will own the freehold to the shop."

Chelwood Gate
Residents of Chelwood Gate, near Crowborough, are determined to restore the heart of their village and recently hosted a local produce market in the village hall.

They plan to hold one in May and June and hope it will become a regular fixture, paving the way for them to take over their local shop.

Roy Galley, chairman of the village's shop committee, said: "The response to the market exceeded all our expectations. Everyone involved was over the moon.

"The aim wasn't to make a profit but to act as a focus for the community.

This succeeded and it also brought in people from surrounding villages.

"All the traders were local producers which is what we want to encourage. There was chocolate, cheese, apple juice, meat, jewellery and even paintings.

"Villages without shops become dormitory areas. Everyone goes away to work, shop and go out. We thought we would see if we can set up a community store staffed by volunteers.

"If there's a continuing demand and we can raise enough money we can have a community-run shop. But in this part of the world we'll need a lot of money to buy the premises."

Do you use your community shops? What do you think about supermarket dominance? Leave your thoughts below.