RESIDENTS in Dulverton were cheered this week with news that the town’s Post Office has been saved.

Businesswoman Melanie Poole has finally been accepted by the Post Office to take over the service after first expressing an interest last summer.

Now, Ms Poole, who also runs Everest Natural Pet Company, in Williton, will take charge on March 11.

It marks the retirement of long-serving postmaster Chris Duberry, who was to have retired last September, which would have seen the Post Office close after he had tried to sell it without success for 18 months.

However, a stay of execution was granted while Ms Poole underwent due diligence and training with the Post Office.

Ms Poole said: “It has taken a little while, but it is happening now, it is all go.

“It will carry on as usual, but the opening hours will be longer, until 5pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays.”

Ms Poole has also opened a branch of her pet supplies business in the Post Office premises which she said was going from strength to strength, and horse owners can also use it as a drop-off point for another of her businesses, PurpleHorse Equestrian Laundry.

The Post Office is also opening a ‘lighter format Post Office branch’ in nearby Brushford later in March using handheld devices.

The new ‘drop and collect’ service will start in Murco’s Carnarvon Stores and Garage on March 28, allowing customers to pay bills, top up their mobile phones, and collect and return pre-paid parcels.

Post Office propositions manager Natalie Liff said the facility was one of the company’s ‘lighter, flexible branch formats developed to take advantage of the opportunities a vibrant, and increasingly competitive, parcels market offers’.

It will be open 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 3pm on Sundays.