THE owner of Sedgeberrow post office has appealed for the support of villagers to stop the service from closing down.

Colin Cleary was set to close up for good last week, but last minute help from the Post Office has meant the shop will continue trading at reduced hours.

Mr Cleary, who has run the post office for three years, believes the revamped superstores in Evesham could be behind his downturn in trade.

He said: "Up until last Thursday the business was closing but then the Post Office came back with a revised plan to keep it open. We try to provide a community service and a lot of the older people do a regular weekly shop with us. But I would say we only get around 50 to 60 regular faces out of a village of 450 people.

"It has not always been a struggle and was ticking along quite nicely, but over the past few months it has got progressively worse.

"Morrisons seems to be getting its act together and its quite depressing when you see Tesco's home delivery van coming to the village four or five times a day. Our prices are the same but we can't compete with things like that."

The shop will now open from 8am until 1pm from Monday to Saturday, and Mr Cleary is urging villagers to support the move.

"Hopefully we can keep the business going for the time being on reduced hours, and it could be a success or it could go under.

"But we need the support of the people in the village."