A POST office that has been shut for the past three weeks must be replaced, according to parish councillors.

Kempsey has been without its sub post office since the owners retired last month, leaving villagers to travel to St Peter’s, Worcester, or Upton-upon-Severn for the nearest replacement service.

Terry Ward, acting parish council chairman, told fellow councillors that it was important “keep up pressure” on the Post Office to get a replacement village service. He said: “If the Post Office do not or cannot replace the service then I think we have to face the prospect of finding a site or building and staff it voluntarily. It can work because it’s been done in places like Norfolk and Devon but it’s a strain running them on that basis.” Fellow councillor Ann Hart agreed, pointing out the sub post office had escaped the wave of national closures that saw branches in Pinvin, near Pershore, and Rushwick, Worcester, shut their doors for good.

“We have to get on to them (the Post Office) about it,” she said. “We are a big village which not only serves people here but from Clifton and Severn Stoke.” Parish clerk Andrea Halford said the Post Office would appoint a new field change adviser in January to look into permanently replacing the service.

An existing adviser has already been looking into the problem since the announced retirement of the former sub postmaster but no replacement plans have yet been decided.

Jacquie Stenson, company spokeswoman, said: “We are looking to replace the service and our adviser will be going around talking to local businesses and the parish council to discuss all the options.

“We want to keep a branch but unfortunately we haven’t been able to find anybody to take it on yet.” She said the Post Office was “hopeful” of an update early next year.