Four years ago, a Scottish village celebrated with petrol pumps for the first time in ten years.
Residents of Newcastleton, near the border, were forced to make the 40-mile round trip to the nearby town just to fill up their tanks before reopening.
With a population of about 850, most of whom are self-employed or farmers, trade began to struggle.
They took matters into their own hands, purchasing the site of the original gas station for an undisclosed sum to raise money to move the project forward.
As petrol prices continue to rise, the project saves families £1,000 a year and relieves them of fuel shortages.
His Community Council Chair Greg Cuthbert said:
``It's been a huge savings of about £900 to £1,000 a year. Children can go out and play and leave the door unlocked It's like the 1950's Crime is rare here
"Everyone was used to getting fuel at Carlisle or Horwich.
"When there were old people, someone would bring a car and bring a car. They mainly use cars in the area.
"We are an agricultural area. People living in agricultural communities I had to go into town to bury some jerrycans for my bike.”
Newcastleton now has two unleaded petrol pumps, two diesel pumps and one for electric vehicles. Features points, air and windshield wash.
This station is currently processing he 21,000 liters a week and 400,000 to 500,000 liters annually.
Initially, £320,000 of funds, including the National Lottery paid for renovations, including a new vestibule and fuel tanks, stumbled upon.
Now, however, all proceeds are reinvested in community projects in Newcastleton.
The return of the petrol pump has brought about a major change in the village's trade, and the business is 'thriving'.
Cuthbert described it as a "goddess", adding: 250 years here. That's definitely the way to go.
"We have a good relationship with our fuel suppliers. We rent them gas stations and they manage them.
"This is the first time it's ever been done. It's run by Gulf and there's no major risk.'
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