THE Winnie-the-Pooh bookshop is back.

Called the Dartmouth Community Bookshop, the new operation is opening on Monday – just 50ft away from the old Harbour Book Shop with its links to Christopher Robin and AA Milne's Pooh books.

The new community-run shop will be stocked with hundreds of new books thanks to a loan from an anonymous benefactor.

And it will be managed by Andrea Saunders, who managed the Harbour Bookshop before it closed in September.

Andrea, who had worked at the old bookshop for 26 years before the shock closure, said: 'People passing the shop have watched progress as shelves and lighting have been installed, and many have asked when we will be open. We are very excited to be able to offer them a good choice of new books once again. We will keep the connection with Christopher Robin and Pooh bear going.'

The opening at the new shop at 12 Higher Street is the culmination for a major community campaign to save the town's unique bookshop connections with the world famous Winnie-the-Pooh stories ever since owners Rowland and Caroline Abram announced it was closing because they could not cope with rising rents and on-line competition.

A bookshop team, which grew out of the Dartmouth and Kingswear Society, managed to buy up the fittings from the Harbour Bookshop in Fairfax Place following its closure and they have been installed in the new premises which are on loan from the Dartmouth Trust.

'Dartmouth has a new bookshop, just two months after the Harbour Bookshop closed its doors', said Tony Fyson, chairman of the group which set up the Dartmouth Community Bookshop. 'It has been hard work and a rollercoaster ride, but thanks to a generous loan, we have been able to buy new books to stock the shop. The group's secretary, Kathy Stansfield, has played the key role in co-ordinating the contractual arrangements.'

The Harbour Bookshop was opened 60 years ago by author AA Milne's son Christopher Robin on whom the world famous character in the Winnie-the-Pooh tales was based.

Mr Fyson said that top-selling titles across the range of adult and childrens' books and books by local authors have been selected by Andrea. There will also be some second hand books, donated by well-wishers to raise funds.

Andrea said: 'Not all services will be up and running on December 5. The shop will have no computers or phone line for a few days, and we won't be able to offer card service payments at first, so customers will need to pay by cash or cheques.'