HEREFORD’S main post office is set to be moved into the WHSmith store further up the street.

The Post Office is planning to move 40 branches across the country into the British retailer’s stores in 2019.

WHSmith already runs 135 post offices within their high street stores nationally.

A spokesman for the Post Office said the move ensures the long-term sustainability of branches and also could mean longer opening hours.

Post Office network and sales director Roger Gale said: “WHSmith and Post Office have worked together successfully for more than a decade and our collaboration helps to secure our services on high streets for years to come.

“We’re continuing to respond to unprecedented change on high streets and in consumer trends.

"By adapting to the needs of customers we’re making sure post offices will matter as much tomorrow as they do today, with services available when and where people want them, in convenient locations and open for longer hours, including Sundays.”

The Post Office is currently at St Peter’s Street and could be moved into WHSmith in High Town.

Relocations are subject to a six-week public consultation which started yesterday and runs until December 19.

The new opening hours would be 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 2pm Sunday.

The Post Office said the same level of service would be available except for the cash machine.

Leaflets are available in the post office to have your say. You can also email comments@postoffice.co.uk or call 03452 660115.

Mr Gale added: “We’ve made significant changes in our network of 11,500 post offices over the past few years, modernising more than 7,500 branches and increasing opening hours for customers by more than 200,000 a week.”

He added: “The vast majority of the Post Office’s network of 11,500 post office branches, large and small, are run on a franchise or agency basis with retailers as part of thriving businesses. It makes sense to further expand this successful, sustainable way of providing Post Office services to customers.”

WHSmith will move to a franchise arrangement of 33 post offices already sited in stores but currently operated directly by the Post Office. The number of post offices operated by WHSmith will then be more than 200.