THE opening of the Staveley bypass in the late eighties brought to an end the traffic jams of tourists heading along the main arterial route into the Lakes. But thanks to developer David Brockbank who set about transforming the former Staveley woodmill yard into a village within the village, not to mention the foresight of local businesses who realised the benefits of working from within the community, rather than on the outskirts in an industrial estate, Staveley is a bustling, thriving, force to be reckoned with. As part of the Gazette's on-going Love Local campaign, Gillian Cowburn set out for Staveley to find out what makes it such a special place to live and work.

Amanda Delaney opened Myrtle & Mace in Staveley Mill Yard three years ago, drawn by the village's "eclectic mix".

"There are all these different businesses but yet Staveley is still a true Lakeland village. It's such a beautiful spot it helps your creativity."

Patrick Moore of the multi award-winning More? The Artisan Bakery moved into the mill yard in February this year.

"It's a real thriving community, and there is a sense of community," said Patrick who had looked at several places as bases to expand his business before he settled on Staveley.

"And it's not just about tourists who visit the yard, it's wonderful to be able to provide the daily bread of people from the village who make us part of their everyday shopping."

Nowhere is that more evident than in the village itself, on the main road through Staveley, which has been home to Haytons family butchers for more than 60 years.

Now run by three of John Hayton's five sons - Kyle, Tyrone and Tod - the business has developed a healthy trade supplying Lake District hotels and restaurants, among them Staveley village pubs The Duke William and the Eagle and Child, as well as serving the domestic market.

"We have had to expand that way to compensate for the trade we have lost over the years to the supermarkets," said Kyle. "We get a lot of visitors to the area, people coming from down south, who say they have lost their butcher."

They seem to appreciate how fortunate the village is to have such an important local service.

The team at Designworks a few doors up has been known to provide another local service - the odd email when someone's computer has been down or an occasional photocopy.

But its main priority is graphic design which includes some exciting community initiatives such as the 'Staveley Green Travel Initiative' (www.staveley-gti.co.uk) and 'Real Ale by Rail', devised in conjunction with the Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership (the Lakes Line passes through Staveley), the Campaign for Real Ale and the Friends of the Lake District.

"We donate a lot of our time to community projects," said Designworks director Rory Black. "We benefit from being in a village location."

And it's nice to give something back.

The team includes designers Richard Feasey and Maxine Plummer.

"I think people who live in the village appreciate the businesses here because there are spin-offs for them," said Richard.

"For us it's good to be part of the village and not on an industrial estate somewhere," added Maxine. "You really get to know the locals, and we help where we can."

Cumbria Stoves might be tucked just off Main Street, but that doesn't stop people popping their head around the door for a nosy.

If they do, they are likely to be greeted by Charles Partridge who 'minds the shop' for boss Chris Rainford.

Charles came to the Lake District 55 years ago to join his family who, at that time, worked at The Wild Boar at Crook.

"My mother was the cook, my sister a waitress, and I was the boot boy," recalled Charles, who said the shop did benefit from passing trade because Staveley was such a busy village.

But Chris Jackson, boss of Organico over the road in the mill yard, believes there are people who still haven't heard about what Staveley has to offer, which is why he is about to launch a 'brown sign' campaign.

"There is a great positive vibe going out from here," said Chris, who has just opened a new 'Upstairs' bistro above the main Organico wine store.

Although he plans to canvas other mill yard residents for their views, Chris has tried to encapsulate what makes it so special in his suggestion for a brown sign on the by-pass ... "adventurous, gastronomical, cultural".