大象传媒

There's always disadvantages though - one being it can be a bit of a mission to get a newspaper or loaf of bread in a hurry.

A simple trip to your local shop often means having to hop in the car or bus to the nearest town or village - something which can prove particularly difficult for some.

Listen: Interview with Susan Mason

大象传媒 Leicester's Jo Hollis went out to visit Susan Mason, the owner of a mobile grocery shop...

Susan used to be an investment banker and a consultant to the charity sector, but after going to a bible college she decided to open a mobile shop to serve the villages around Market Harborough.

This was a move she described as, "a much better way of serving the community and a happier way to live my life."

Her company Rural Trading consists of a transit van with a three tonne trailer behind it.

The business is primarily aimed at elderly people who do not have a car and find it difficult to do their weekly shop.

Some of the villages on her route do not have a regular public transport service and instead people have to pre-book seats on a bus.

Challenges

Jill from Braybrooke says the village has not had a local shop for around eight years, so she see's the mobile convenience store as an asset.

"I know there's red tape to deal with but I think it's important the authorities give as much support as they possibly can to something like this which is getting out to the rural villages.

"Obviously I won't be able to get everything from her but she doesn't expect that to be part of the service that she's offering.

"Sometimes she has six or seven people actually waiting for her to get here."

Since hitting the road in December 2008 Susan says she's generally had good support from local authorities, and is just clearing up some last minute issues about crossing over boarders.

Her main challenge so far has been the snowy February weather which prevented the heavy trailer reaching many of the villages - she's convinced they'll be much more prepared next year!