The manager of a community-run shop in the Hughenden Valley that provides a “lifeline” for elderly residents is “completely devastated” after she says the building was burgled and set fire to at the weekend.

Louise Jones, manager of the Hughenden Valley Community Shop on Coombe Lane, which is almost entirely run by volunteers, said frozen food, sandwiches and washing powder was stolen before a fire was started on Saturday, March 5.

The shop, which is housed in a single-storey portable building, suffered extensive damage and is now closed temporarily.

Firefighters were called at 6.26am on Saturday morning and three crews from High Wycombe used a hose reel, two sets of breathing apparatus and positive pressure ventilation fan to put the fire out.

Ms Jones said she was alerted to the fire by a volunteer, who had arrived to open the store and saw “smoke pouring out the door” and said the attack “feels personal.”

She said: “He called the fire brigade and police and once the fire was out we discovered we had been burgled before they set fire to it.

“We are completely devastated, I have put so much heart and soul into it, as have the volunteers. It is a community-run shop, so it is residents who have put their time and commitment into it.

“Everyone was really proud of it and we have had so much support. It is a great facility to have in the village.”

Ms Jones said the shop, which stocks local produce as well as newspapers, greeting cards and stamps as well as other everyday items, was a “lifeline” for many elderly residents.

She said: “There are lots of people who come along to the shop and for many, it is the only person they will see all day. It was a real community shop. We did lots of home deliveries as well.

“It is a shame because we also run the café next to the shop and it was a meeting place as much as it was a café.

“We are waiting for the police to come back to us with their reports and then concentrate on what we can do next, but we are planning to reopen and for around six to eight weeks we will need a replacement building.

“We are trying to stay positive but we are urging people to support us.”

Janet Idle, co-chair of the Hughenden Valley Residents Association, said the incident has shocked the village.

She said: “It is the only shop in the whole of Hughenden and a lot of people relied on it. Everyone is quite shocked actually. It is a huge shame for the elderly residents who use it and rely on it for their milk, bread and papers every day.”

Thames Valley Police has not yet confirmed if any arrests have been made.