VILLAGERS in Norton Fitzwarren have their post office back after a 16-month gap.

The branch office re-opened today (Thursday) at a new location in the Southern Co-op, in Norton Mills, Morse Road.

It had been temporarily closed since the store where it previously operated closed in October 2017.

Post office services are located at one of the existing retail counters, where customers can buy food items while posting letters or picking up online shopping items.

The facility will be open from 7am to 10pm seven days a week.

Mike Ball, Post Office multiples account executive, said: "We are delighted to be able to restore Post Office services to Norton Fitzwarren as we understand and appreciate how much communities rely on our services.”

Bev Wyatt, Southern Co-op’s post office relationship manager, said: "As a regional, independent co-operative, we wanted to give something back to our customers so we are extremely pleased to be able to offer this service in store.

"The service will be available whenever we are open and we hope our customers will find it a positive step forward as they can now think about their posting needs whenever they pop in for their milk or other food essentials."