A VILLAGE post office is to closed to be replaced by a new seven-day-a-week service within a village store.

Fence Post Office at 422 Wheatley Lane Road will close in the next few months with services transferred to Fence Village Stores at 379 Wheatley Lane Road.

Royal Mail said the new service would open seven days a week from Monday to Saturday 7.30am-9pm and Sunday from 9am-8pm.

The date for the relocation has yet to be confirmed and Royal Mail said posters will be displayed in the current post office to advise customers of when the move will take place.

The dedicated area within the village store will have an open plan counter for bill payments, banking, benefits and travel money.

It will also process postage, home shopping returns and be a Local Collect office.

The new branch will be designed to Post Office guidelines to ensure easy access and that there is adequate space for wheelchair users inside.

There will also be a hearing loop at the counter and staff will be trained to Post Office professional standards of service and security.

A Post Office spokesman, said: “Services will be available during the store’s much longer opening hours, 7.30am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 8pm on Sunday.

“The opening hours which will increase by an extra 55 hours a week, will ensure that the branch is more convenient, as people will now have more choice of when to visit with earlier opening, later closing, no more lunchtime closures and service on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons and Sunday.

“The new Fence Post Office will be delighted to welcome customers to the new branch.”

Suzanne Richardson, regional manager said: “We are confident that this vibrant new post office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.

“The investment marks a commitment to no more branch closures programmes.”