RESIDENTS in Ashwater are thrilled that the village again has full postal facilities, more than a year after the closure of its post office.

Residents were delighted to receive news that the post office would reopen as part of the community-run village shop.

Previously, residents wanting to access post office facilities had faced a 15-mile round trip to Holsworthy or Beaworthy since the village shop and post office closed in December 2009.

Parish councillor Barry Parsons said: 'This really is wonderful news for Ashwater. With all the funding cuts going on at the moment, villages and local communities need post office facilities.

'This is a fantastic time for Ashwater — the new village hall was opened a couple of years ago, the new community shop opened a couple of months back, and now we hear we will once again have full post office services available in the village.

'We're very fortunate that Devon County Council, despite its funding pressures, has agreed to continue supporting 16 rural post offices in the area, including Ashwater, which will receive a £1,500 grant for the next two years.'

Ivan Buxton, treasurer of Ashwater Community Shop, said: 'We're really glad to be welcoming post office facilities to the shop, and back to Ashwater.

'We're hoping the post office will give a boost to the shop, as we'll have access to chip and pin facilities, and hopefully it will bring new customers through the doors.'

The shop has been open since November 26 last year and came about because of local demands for a shop in the village.

A Post Office spokesman said: 'We are delighted to have appointed a new partner, providing us the opportunity to incorporate post office services into the community run village shop.

'Our priority is to safeguard post office services to the local community in the longer term. Re-opening the branch at this new location allows us to restore access to post office services in Ashwater, providing longer opening hours.'

The new post office will offer the same range of services as the previous branch, and will also offer longer opening hours than previously, with Sunday and Wednesday opening.

The post office will be officially opened by West Devon and Torridge Geoffrey Cox MP on March 31.