GOOD news for Dilton Marsh as its Post Office finally reopened in the Village Store on July 15 – ten months after the old village store and Post Office closed.

The store is run by Matt Lawes, 34, together with partner Ellie Whitehead, 22.

She said: “Lots of people are pleased that the Post Office has returned.

“The nearest one is in Westbury and many elderly people have difficulty getting to it.

“Now they have the local service again it helps them to do things for themselves and maintain their independence.

“The shop is becoming part of village life again, people come in and see people they have not seen for a while and they can have a catch-up – it is becoming a real hub for the community.”

The new Post Office now offers a range of services from the usual parcels and stamps to banking, foreign currency and the electronic payment of bills.

It is open from 6am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, and 6am-6pm on Sundays as part of the Post Office’s new pattern of working which it hopes will fit around people’s lifestyles.

Previously the shop, that had a Post Office counter, closed at the end of September 2013 in spite of a petition from villagers to keep it open.

The couple bought, renovated and reopened the store in April this year after moving to Wiltshire, near Stonehenge, from Gilling-ham, Dorset.

It stocks a range of local goods – for example all its meat comes from Penleigh Farm in Dilton Marsh.

Mr Lawes said: “Things are going really well. We have had great support from the local community and now that we have the Post Office we are going to look at what other services we can provide for the community.”

Post Office trainer Sam Johnson, from Bolton, is spending a few weeks with the couple to ensure that the new Post Office gets off to a good start and things run smoothly.