POST Office services returned to the village of South Zeal last week, with the reopening of the vital community facility.
Sub postmaster Chris Law and his wife Helen will be running the Post Office service from The Stores in South Zeal.
The branch officially opened last Thursday and will offer the usual range of services, including benefit payments, banking services, postal facilities and foreign currency as well as accepting bill payments.
South Zeal has been without a Post Office since the death of sub postmistress Diana England in June 2002.
Her family have served the residents of the village for more than 100 years — she had been postmistress for 40 years and her children grew up in what is now the old Post Office.
At the time of the closure, members of the community rallied to the support of those attempting to restore the service, but were dismayed when initial failure also brought the closure of one village shop.
Stepping into the breach, Chris and Helen, who owned the remaining shop, were determined to see essential post office services restored to the rural community.
With the backing of parishioners and others living nearby, Chris and Helen set about the task of gaining planning permission for expansion to their shop to extend the services they could provide.
The couple continued to maintain the retail service in their shop during months of upheaval while workmen dealt with the external and internal alterations that were necessary.
Diana England's widower David cut the ceremonial ribbon on Thursday to declare the post office open.
Many villagers gathered to witness the ceremony and watch David hand on the business to a new family. Jane Jecks became the first customer of the new era.
Post Office spokesmen Don Veale said: 'We are delighted' the Post Office is returning to South Zeal.
'We work very hard to keep Post Offices operating in rural areas because we know how vital the service is to the local community.'
Within normal shopping hours a Post Office service will be provided on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am until 5.30pm — closed between 1-2pm for lunch — 9am until 1pm on Thursdays and 9am until 12.30pm on Saturdays.