Atworth's Post Office in The Bear Garage is going to be refurbished and will have much longer opening hours.

The current postmaster has chosen to leave, and the Post Office and the shop will become part of the Central Convenience Stores franchise.

Service will be provided at a Post Office terminal which will sit beside the shopping till instead of at a separate screened counter.

The change means that Post Office facilities can then be provided for an extra 76 hours a week, at shop opening times.

The new opening times are 7am-9pm Monday-Friday and 7am-8pm Saturday and Sunday.

The branch on Bath Road will be closing for eight days from 1pm on Thursday, February 12 until February 20, re-opening at 1pm, for the work to be carried out.