RESIDENTS in a West Devon village will soon be able to buy stamps and collect their pensions at the same time as ordering a vegetable box and picking up a ready meal.
The village post office in Milton Abbot may be closing its doors on March 24 — but services will resume next door in the Farmhouse Kitchen, which is taking over on March 26.
Alex Tempest, who opened his shop in the village in October last year, said: 'Post Office Ltd approached me when we were opening and asked if we could put in a till and a counter, and I said we'd be delighted to.
'It's another service we can provide for the village. Milton Abbot serves a big area — the post office is really important.'
Alex said the village would be without post office services for just a day and a half during the changeover — but customers could look forward to longer opening hours in future.
'We don't close at lunchtime and we are also open on Sunday mornings, so people will have a bit more choice — and we are open from 8am until 6pm,' said Alex, who until last year sold his products from Tavistock Pannier Market.
'We moved out here for larger premises. We're having a really cool time out here and I think we're doing a good job — having the post office will add another string to our bow,' he said.