MOUNT Pleasant Post Office has undergone refurbishment ahead of the imminent closures of the Beoley Road West Branch.

The Mount Pleasant branch re-opened yesterday following four days of work which involved installing a new two-position post office counter.

The branch also houses a newsagents, convenience store and off-licence and a full refurbishment of the retail area of the store, including improving disabled access, will take place later this month.

Cash from subpostmaster Surbjit Basi and match-funding from Post Office Ltd has enabled the work to be carried out.

The Advertiser reported last month the Beoley Road West branch would shut on July 28 - despite protests from residents, councillors and Redditch MP Jacqui Smith.

The Post Office announced the St George's branch would be axed as part of a "restructuring" of its network and to "safeguard the future" of other branches in the area.

It also revealed falling customer numbers and the transfer of benefit payments from pass books to bank accounts prompted the move.

And the fate of a second Redditch post office was also sealed in June when it was announced the branch in Rectory Road, Headless Cross would close in August.