THE people of Clehonger are to get a new Post Office, but not until just before Christmas, writes LIZ WATKINS.

Opening date is Thursday, December 5 and the new address is The Top Shop, Birch Hill Road in the village.

Locals have been without a PO since the old one at Lilac Stores closed down at the end of August.

They have had to transfer their business further afield to Kingstone, Madley and Allensmore, very inconvenient for some people said Herefordshire Councillor David Taylor (Ind/ Stoney Street). He tried to persuade the Post Office to fill the gap with a post bus, or some other temporary facility but without success.

In fact the Post Office said Clehonger could consider itself lucky to get a replacement at all, it was only through the last minute applicant for the sub postmaster's position. He is Paul Gladwyn who runs The Top Shop with his brother and will be manning the counter from early in December.

Cllr Taylor urged people in the area to return to the new post office in Clehonger when it opened to help to keep thriving services in the village which has 550 homes.

"I am now having to address the problem of parking and how it affects the lives of people living new the PO. I shall be looking into it,'' said Cllr Taylor.

Meanwhile the village has lost its central post box. It was removed last week from the site of the former Lilac Stores. A new box will be situated at the new post office when it opens in December. Other boxes in Clehonger are in Croft Road and Poplar Road.