David Cameron has spoken of a ‘Big Society’ and now an opportunity has arisen for people in Oxford to embrace this vision.

A new ‘People’s Supermarket’ is planning to open in either Cowley Road or Marston by the summer.

Under the scheme, shoppers can opt to pay a membership fee and volunteer in order to help cut management and staff costs.

This of course should result in cheaper goods.

Members will have to pay an annual fee of about £12 and volunteer for four hours a month, but in return they get 20 per cent off their shopping.

Says founder Chris Waites: “It’s a normal supermarket, but the prices are much, much cheaper.

“And it will have a nice community feel to it.”

He adds the store will be a non-profit venture with any surplus being invested into the store or put into the community.

It sounds terrific, and there are two existing outlets in Camden and Hackney.

Graham Jones, chairman of Oxford traders’ group Rox, probably sums it up best when he says: “We are always looking for new ideas and something to excite the market place.

“If they have done their homework it should be great.”