A woman described as a cornerstone of village life in Appleton has been nominated for the National Farmers Union Countryperson of the Year Award.

Margaret Reading, 66, has been chairman of Appleton-with-Eaton Parish Council for five years.

She is also organiser of the Appleton Community Shop -- a non-profit-making store set up when the village shop faced closure.

Miss Reading organises the rota for the shop's 60 volunteers and frequently works shifts behind the counter -- whether it be sorting newspapers at 6am or closing the shop at 7pm.

She is also the driving force behind a determined village effort to have a playground and recreation area built for young people.

Miss Reading has also been a leading figure in the 30-year campaign for a new path along the Netherton Road. The hard work paid off last month when the issue was placed on Oxfordshire County Council's priority plans.

She visits Abingdon Hospital once a week with her whippets Spot and Bambi, as part of the PATS dog therapy session in which patients stroke dogs.

She said: "I was so surprised when I received the letter from the NFU.

"At first I thought it was another one of those letters trying to sell me something.

"I feel very honoured to have been put forward. But village life is a community thing and I am part of a team in Appleton."

One person who nominated Miss Reading, but who wished to remain anonymous, said: "She leads the council by example and is incredibly in tune with the villagers on many issues.

"Never afraid to take up concerns with villagers, she is able to reason, even when there is something quite contentious under debate."