Wrington’s post office will remain in the village, but is set to move to a new store to ensure its long-term future.

The facility in Broad Street will become part of Amors Stores in January, in a move which will see villagers benefit from improved facilities and longer opening hours.

The owner of Amors – which has been in Wrington since the 19th century – said the relocation would help ‘keep the village community alive’.

Bob Edmonds said: “We had to take the post office over because we have lost all passing trade through the village – the hub of the village has completely gone.

“The bank and the GP surgery have both closed and if they had shut the post office as well, I don’t think we would have lasted very long.

“It wasn’t a hard decision to make. By having the post office here, we will keep banking facilities in the village and it will increase the shop’s footfall by bringing more people in.

“Wrington is too big a village to have all its facilities closed down and the new post office will keep the village community alive.”

The post office will close on January 9 and the new site will open two days later, with extended opening hours of 8.30am- 5pm on weekdays and 8am-1pm on Saturdays.

A company spokesman said villagers responded positively to the idea of a relocated post office during public consultation.

The spokesman said: “Customers were very pleased that post office services would be retained in Wrington and said the proposed premises are easy to access, provide excellent customer service and are a valued part of the local community.”