Last updated 13:24, Friday, 12 December 2008

A SPIRITUALIST druid couple are set to take over an empty shop in Barrow.

NEW VENTURE: Roy and Sarah Carbis

Druids Roy and Sarah Carbis plan to move into the former Hampsons estate agents on Dalton Road in early January, transforming it into Shocking ‘n’ Charming, a druid-inspired store also selling electrical items.

The Ulverston couple married earlier this year in a pagan-style service, which included a hand fasting ceremony at Birkrigg Common’s stone circle.

Now they are taking their beliefs to the next step – setting up shop and forming a local druid group.

Mr Carbis, 60, said: “With this resurgence of the New Wave, spiritualism and the concept of druids is becoming more popular. The principle of being a druid is to live with the earth – to ensure there is an earth for future generations.”

Mr Carbis and his wife Sarah, currently a care coordinator for Age Concern, organise regular druid events throughout the year, including a spring and autumn equinox and their upcoming winter solstice.

Mr Carbis, currently unemployed, said: “We hold the festivals at a beach chalet at Baycliff, everyone is welcome and there will be refreshments and a visit from Lynda Braithwaite, the ordained druid from across Morecambe Bay.”

The Dalton Road premises has been empty since the sudden closure of Hampsons in October after the firm went into liquidation. The first floor of the building is home to Cumbria Wedding Services and BigBluBox.com, a website building firm.

Shocking ‘n’ Charming will sell a unique combination of herbs, incense, dream catchers and altar cloths, with electrical household items such as irons, kettles and toasters.

Mr and Mrs Carbis also hope to hire out rooms for therapy and alternative medicine practices, and say they are really looking forward to their new venture. Mr Carbis said: “It’s something different, and we think there’s a real need for something like this in the area, there’s certainly nothing else quite like it.”

For more information on the Carbis’ druid group, contact them on 01229 581339.