A?PUB in St Ann's Chapel has added another string to its bow with the introduction of a post office.

Post office services have resumed in the village with a new outreach service at the Rifle Volunteer after the main post office closed.

The new outreach service was required as the previous subpostmistress gave notice to cease providing post office services due to her own personal circumstances.

Now, the hosted outreach service will see the subpostmaster of Gunnislake visiting the community four times a week to offer services from The Rifle Volunteer.

The Rifle Volunteer owner Marius Anderson said: 'The local post office was closing down and we were approached by the Post Office to host an outreach service in the pub.

'The outreach service uses our snug restaurant and the service providers come in and set themselves up for the day. Then at the end of the day, they take it all down again.'

The outreach post office has already begun operating from the pub and Mr Anderson said that they have started getting a few people in to use the service.

'I think it will take a little while for people to get used to the relocation,' he said.

'Myself, my wife and my family are really happy to have the post office here and be able to do our bit for helping the community.'

Post Office field change advisor, Colin Pound, said: 'We understand how important having a post office branch is to residents in the area and we are confident that the hosted outreach service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

'The post office has made a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.'

The St Ann's Chapel branch had originally been planned to move into Maberley's Convenience Store but after a six-week public consultation period, the decision was dropped. Since then the convenience store has closed.

Mr Anderson said his family did look at trying to purchase the village shop, but couldn't come to an agreement with the owner.

The new outreach service will run on Mondays from 2pm to 5pm, Wednesdays from 11am to 2pm, Thursdays from 11am to 3pm and Fridays from 1pm to 5pm.

The same range of services will still be available and the new premises has a level access with a wide door. Inside there is a hearing loop and space for a wheelchair. There is also a free customer car park.