A POST Office Chief Exectutive cut the ribbon to officially open a relocated village post office.

The Sible Hedingham Post Office reopened on Sunday inside the Londis garage, on Swan Street, two doors down from the previous branch.

Post Office Chief Executive, Kevin Gilliland OBE, cut a ribbon outside the store to mark the occasion, which will see the post office open for an extra 72 hours a week.

Former Postmaster, Krishna Hirani, will continue to work in the branch, while Londis manager, Kandasamy Nirmalan, will take over the role of Postmaster.

Mr Nirmalan, who has been involved with retail for 25 years, said: “The village is delighted that has retained a Post Office, in a central location with much longer opening hours. Many of the Post Office customers were already customers of my convenience store, so we were keen to provide the Post Office service for the village.”

New opening hours will see the Post Office open throughout the shop opening hours, including all-day Sunday.

It is a modern open-plan 'local' style branch with Post Office services delivered from an open-plan till alongside the convenience store’s retail counter.

A pedestrian walkway on the garage forecourt has been created to provide a clear route from the pavement and parking area to the shop and the Post Office.

Kevin Gilliland OBE said: “I am delighted to officially open Sible Hedingham Post Office. I know how important a Post Office is to communities and we are delighted that the village will really benefit from the branch being open seven days a week from early until late, especially as there is no bank in the village. We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.

“We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”