ISOLATED post offices in the Okehampton area are being encouraged to apply for a new government grant to improve their premises. Post offices which have no other branch within half a mile have been recently designated as 'community branches' and are therefore eligible for funding to improve or grow their branch and help its long-term sustainability. The Government has set aside £20–million to improve such branches, many of which also serve as the only shop in their village. Central Devon MP Mel Stride has encouraged the 11 eligible post offices in the constituency to apply for funding. Drewsteignton and South Zeal's post offices are among those eligible. Mr Stride said: 'I am very proud that this Government has remained committed to our Post Office network, investing £640million in revamping more than 2,200 branches already and ensuring 60,000 extra opening hours for customers across the country. 'There are a number of communities across my constituency where residents are heavily reliant on their post office and I have either visited or written to these eligible branches to urge them to take advantage of this grant.' Before becoming an MP Mr Stride campaigned for three years against the last Government's post office closure programme, raising 14,000 signatures door-to-door for a major petition that he delivered to Number 10 Downing Street.