An under-threat village shop could be saved at the 11th hour, if plans to form a co-operative to take it over come off.

A6 Stores and Post Office at Plumpton, between Carlisle and Penrith, has been trading since 1952 but will close on November 28 unless a buyer comes forward.

Owners Lenny and Rose Pakalski CORR want to retire having run the business for 15 years.

They have been trying to sell it for five years without success, despite it being profitable with a turnover of almost £200,000 a year.

A group of villagers determined to save it are holding a public meeting on Wednesday NOV 4 at Plumpton School, starting at 7.30pm.

One idea is to form a co-operative and issue shares to buy the venture.

Elaine Martin, who represents Plumpton on the parish and district councils, is part of the group.

She said: “Plumpton shop and post office is a vital resource, not just for people in this village but also for other nearby communities that have already lost their shops.

“It is also used by drivers on the A6. If the shop is allowed to close its doors forever, it will be a huge loss for many people.

“I would urge anyone who uses the shop to come along on Wednesday.

“We would like to hear your views and ideas for the next stage of our shop’s long history, and share some of the success stories from other communities who have united to save their shops.”

The campaigners have set up a Facebook page, Save Plumpton Village Shop.

Mrs Martin added: “If you can’t make it on Wednesday, but would like to be involved, please get in touch via our Facebook page. Please like and share the page too, to help spread the message.”

A6 Stores is on the market with commercial property agent Edwin Thompson at £220,000. The price covers the convenience store, adjoining toy shop, post office and three-bedroom owners’ accommodation.

The stock is available for £45,000. The agent quotes an annual turnover of £198,995 and gross profit of £46,946, plus a PO salary of £11,659.

Plumpton would not be the first Cumbrian village to set up a co-operative to save a cherished institution.

Indeed, Cumbria was named as a hotspot for community entrepreneurship in a survey by Co-operatives UK last year.

It found that 2,200 people in the county have invested in nine community share schemes.

Among them is The Old Crown at Hesket Newmarket, the first co-operatively owned pub in the country.

It was bought by 125 customers in 2003 and now has 150 shareholders.

Julian Ross, chairman of the co-operative, said: “We wanted to safeguard the future of The Old Crown for the community and felt that the best way of achieving this was to get the community involved.

“It’s certainly worked. The local and wider community has a very real stake in the pub, and its success has had a positive knock-on effect on other local businesses.”

The adjoining Hesket Market Brewery is also a community venture.

The co-operative model was adopted in Crosby Ravensworth, where 300 people raised £300,000 to buy and re-open the Butchers Arms in 2011.

And last year a co-operative took over Carlisle World Shop, the Fairtrade shop in Lowthians Lane, Carlisle, when founder Lorna Strong retired.

Other examples include the Baywind Energy Co-operative, which raised £1.8m to fund a windfarm on the Furness Peninsula, and Witherslack Community Shop between Kendal and Grange-over-Sands.

Not all such enterprises have been successful.

Melmerby and Fellside Village shop re-opened as a community venture in 2005 only to close three years later.

And an attempt to buy the Crown Inn at Blencowe, near Penrith, was abandoned in 2013 after campaigners failed to raise enough money.