TAVISTOCK'S main post office will be closing for a week next month, to allow a major refit to take place.

The Post Office is modernising Tavistock Post Office into a new 'main' style open-plan branch. The opening hours are being extended by 50 hours and trading hours will be almost doubled. Post Office services will then be available seven days a week.

As part of Post Office plans to modernise the network and extend the opening hours for customers, Tavistock Post Office will have five serving positions. This will comprise a mixture of two traditional screened counter positions, two open plan and a Post Office serving point at the retail counter.

Tavistock Post Office closes for refurbishment on Tuesday, March 12 at 5.30pm. The new-look Post Office opens on Thursday, March 2 at 9am..

Post Office regional network manager for Wales and West of England, Tony Jones, said: 'We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Tavistock and we are confident that this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

'This modernisation is part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, that will see around 6000 branches — about half the Post Office network —converting to new-style branches. This investment makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.'

Tavistock Post Office customers will benefit from opening hours being extended by 50 hours a week as selected Post Office products and services will available during shop opening hours, which will be Monday to Saturday, 7am to 10pm and on Sunday from 8am until 10pm.

During the refurbishment the nearest post offices are at Whitchurch, Mary Tavy or Gunnislake.