THE official reopening of Sheepwash Community Post Office is very much a village success.
Ron Booth, chairman of the village shop committee, held the red ribbon along with local councillor Buster Jones — it was Buster who spearheaded the campaign to restore the village shop and Post Office for the community.
Cutting the ribbon was new subpostmaster Christine Vincent. She has been running the recently re-opened Mermaid Stores — the site of the Post Office when it closed 12 months ago.
'The villagers were determined to get the village shop back and with a lot of effort and support we succeeded,' said Christine.
'To have the Post Office back as well has really put the heart back into our community. Now we need customers to continue to use both the store and the Post Office to ensure we can retain these vital services.'
When the Mermaid Stores closed last August the local community formed a fund raising action committee — helped by Ron Booth and Buster Jones — to try and get the facilities back.
Despite experiencing problems associated with the outbreak of foot and mouth, the committee managed to obtain a key stage government grant along with funding from Torridge Council and Bridgeland Trust.
Sheepwash Community Post Office and Stores committee was able to lease the shop wing of the 300-year-old property from new owners Christine and Andy Vincent.
The Post Office is open between 9am and midday on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Customers will be able to carry out the usual range of services including pensions and benefit payments, banking services, postal facilities as well as accepting payment for household bills and travel facilities.