MP Harriett Baldwin has offered her support to a group of Broadheath villagers who are trying to restore a village shop and offer Post Office services.

The MP has been in regular contact with the group for several months after it announced plans to investigate resumption of the village store in the summer.

The previous shop closed down in May but the MP intervened to ensure that postal services were maintained at the local pub.

Now the group is hoping to restore the village shop by using the portable building which used to be used by the highly-successful Alfrick village store.

Mrs Baldwin has written to the Post Office management asking them to assist the Broadheath group as they explore options to restore both the shop and Post Office.

She said: " was an active supporter of Alfrick villagers as local people volunteered to run their shop and Post Office and I was delighted to hear that this venture had been so successful that they are now able to move into a permanent site.

“I hope that Broadheath is able to replicate this success and I have offered the group my help and support as they explore all the options.

“I have written to the Post Office’s chief executive, Paula Vennells, reiterating my support for this venture and urging her to offer as much assistance as possible to the local volunteers as they embark on this project.”