An area of the city that preserves a traditional village atmosphere with a general store, a butcher's, a bakery, a deli and a post office.

Increasingly, though, the people living there aren't traditional village types at all.

Many community-owned shops are on sites where traditional village shops have failed - about 400 village shops close each year.

They are now urging the charity's three million members to support the defence of their traditional village life.

The heavy snowfall means the traditional village resorts, which are typically at lower altitudes than the purpose-built ski stations, will likely have snow cover and therefore be a viable option.