A VILLAGE pub will double up as a Post Office from Monday.

Diane Nicholson, Landlady of The Grey Horse Inn, Glazebury, near Leigh, is hoping to pull customers back to the service they have missed for over a year.

The new post mistress will provide a wide range of postal services in an annex at the Warrington Road pub which will replace the old Glazebury Post Office closed in August last year when subpostmaster John Murray retired and pulled down the shutters for good.

Diane decided to step in when Post Office Ltd were unable to find a replacement.

Now she has transformed the pub to accommodate the new service, which she will man herself, and which will open between 9am and 2pm Monday to Saturday.

Located just half a mile away from the previous branch on the same road, it will have a coffee and sweet shop and will be separate from the bar area and have its own entrance.

Diane, who runs the pub with husband Bill, said: "Our village post office closed last August and I think people need the service. It should also help keep the community together.

"We will be using an annex next to the pub, though people will either be able to enter it through an outside door or through the pub itself.

"I've lived in the village all my life and I think the villagers need it - the customers are really up for it.

"I'm a bit apprehensive preparing for the opening but I am really looking forward to it."

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has campaigned for a new Post Office for the village since the old one shut.

She said: "Glazebury has had an important part of its village services restored. I am delighted that the Post Office has delivered on its promise. I know that many residents were worried that the service had been lost for good when the sub-postmaster retired but I am sure the new branch will be well supported by the local community."

The new office will have level access and a separate entrance. Internally, there is ample space for a wheelchair and there is limited off-road parking at the back.

Rural Transfer Adviser Andy Wright said: "We apologise for the inconvenience the temporary closure of this branch has undoubtedly caused.

Im sure our customers will be delighted that we can now restore service and I trust that they will support Mrs Nicholson in her new venture."