It has been a challenging time for Pontrilas postmistress Sonya Cary, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queens’ Birthday Honours in 2020 for services to the local community.

Not only has she seen energy prices for the community interest business she runs, of which the Post Office is an integral part, sky rocket to an unsustainable £1,500 a month (from £489) , but an "intense smoke fire" at her Rowlestone home two weeks ago has left her temporarily homeless.

Thankfully, she was not at home at the time, but was alerted by a neighbour while out delivering a Sunday roast she had promised to a gentleman recently out of hospital.

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"The fire brigade told me that if I'd been there, I wouldn't have got out of it," she said.

She is now waiting for the insurers to assess the damage and has been told it will be up to eight weeks before she can move back in. In the meantime a friend has given her refuge in Kilpeck.

The resulting disruption has meant that Ms Carey has had to pull out of a scheduled visit to Parliament on February 22 where a report will be launched on the economic and social value of the Post Office.

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The event will also be an opportunity for MPs to meet Postmasters from across the country who do extraordinary things for their community.

Although she cannot attend, she will be featured in a film along with other postmasters to be shown at the event.

"The rising energy costs could see many hundreds of post offices closing," said Ms Carey, who was interviewed for both TV and the Financial Times in November last year about the issue.

"And the vitality of our post offices in Herefordshire are really important. We are crucial to local communities."

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Energy bills for the average post office have jumped 249 per cent – and are set to rise by £6,000 to £8,000 this year – putting these community hubs and the essential services they provide at risk of closure

Despite all the challenges, she remains committed to the core principles of C.A.R.E. Hereford, the community interest company which works to mitigate the impact of social isolation on the elderly community, with three lunch clubs a week, a community cafe and bingo to help combat loneliness and malnutrition in the elderly in the rural community.

"It's been tough," she said, "But we're still standing strong and making sure our users in the community are fed, looked after and loved."

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