FUNDING to keep a post office facility in South Zeal has hit a snag, but villagers remain confident that the money can be found soon.

Following the death of postmistress Diana England, who ran the village service from her home, local residents were concerned that they may lose this vital facility, but Andrew and Tracey White, of the Maid Marion Stores, agreed to take it on.

Although the couple understood that 100 per cent funding would be provided by the Post Office through a Department of Trade and Industry grant scheme to alter and equip their premises, they have since been told that only 50 per cent of the costs will be met.

However, negotiations are taking place to find the shortfall after a further £4,000 was promised by the Countryside Agency.

Mr White, who is now in his fourth year of running the Maid Marion stores, said the new Post Office was originally set to open at the beginning of July, but now it looked like it could be another two months at least.

'There is no way we can start work until all the funding is in place, but the total bill is £16,500 and we currently have a £4,000 shortfall,' he said.

'We have agreed to run the post office because we did not want to see it close in the village — I have told the Post Office I am prepared to allocate space in my shop and employ an extra member of staff to run it, but we cannot afford to fund the work or any of the equipment myself.'

Mr White said if for any reason a few years down the line, the post office decided to shut the facility he would lose out if he had spent money on the project.

He added he had received full support from the village and the parish council for the plans and everyone was working hard to see this project come to fruition.

Spokesman for the Post Office Don Veale said he could not discuss individual cases, but added: 'We are still very much committed to keeping a Post Office facility in South Zeal and negotiations between a number of funding agencies including ourselves are ongoing.'

Chairman of South Tawton Parish Council Bill Cann said he and his clerk were working hard to find the extra cash from other sources and were talking with community organisations and Devon County Council.

'This is just a bit of a hiccup and it is not a question of if the Post Office will open, but when — I hope it will be September time,' he said.

'I am confident that we will get a positive outcome in this case, but it just takes a bit of time because there is not a lot of money around in a rural area like this.'