(Image: Library Image)
A County Durham Post Office is set to move to a new location with improved access and extended hours.
Trimdon Village Post Office will close next month, and later reopen at Premier, at 17 Church Road, offering 96 hours of service per week - 30 more than its current schedule.
The branch will open from 7am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 9pm on weekends.
A Post Office spokesperson said: "We recognise that the Post Office plays an important part in the lives of customers, particularly to older and disabled customers and we want to make our services as accessible as possible."
The move is just 60 metres from the current site at 25 Church Road, which will close on November 11 at 6pm and reopen at the new site on Friday, November 20.
During the closure, customers can use the nearby Trimdon Grange Post Office at 1 Redesdale Court or the Fishburn branch at 6-7 Walden Terrace.
In this instance, the postmaster identified an opportunity to relocate the branch to an alternative site, allowing Post Office services to continue to be provided to the local community.
The new branch will operate alongside a convenience store.
Improvements have also been made to accessibility.
The new site now offers level, step-free access following recent refurbishments by the postmaster.
The Post Office spokesperson said: "When the new branch opens, access will be level at the entrance from the footpath.
"The postmaster has recently completed a refurbishment of the premises, which has improved internal accessibility and removed the step that was previously present at the entrance, providing step-free access for customers."
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Parking will remain unchanged, with the same roadside options available due to the short distance between the old and new locations.
A postmaster operates Post Office branches alongside their own retail businesses, and it is essential that they use their resources effectively to ensure the long-term sustainability of both their business and the Post Office service.
The extended hours and improved access aim to make postal services more convenient and inclusive for the Trimdon community.