A Burnham Market jeweller said his relocation into a vacant old chapel had given the village a timely lift as the country struggles to emerge from recession.

A BURNHAM Market jeweller said his relocation into a vacant old chapel had given the village a timely lift as the country struggles to emerge from recession.

The Urban Armour store officially opened its contemporary-styled outlet on North Street last week after outgrowing its previous premises on Ulph Place, where it had been located for six years.

The Old Chapel building housed the Treasure Island gift emporium for 20 years, but had been left empty since that shop closed two years ago.

Urban Armour owner Charles Bourn said the unused building was a symptom of the difficulties facing businesses during the financial downturn, and hoped its revival was a sign of better times ahead.

He said: "Everyone in Burnham Market has been lifted by this iconic old building being back in use. It was dormant for the whole of last year, which was symptomatic of the wider economic malaise. Now it feels like a rebirth and people can feel more positive about things."

Urban Armour imports jewellery from all over Europe and also sells some lines at counters in Selfridges department stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Mr Bourn said his Burnham Market shop had continued to grow during the recession as most of his products were silver, which was a more buoyant market than gold.

"Burnham Market has this image of being very upmarket and expensive, but there is actually a very rounded mix of shops on offer here," he said. "We are not selling �10,000 items of jewellery - in fact it is all very affordable for most people. It is not exclusive."