IT may look like a large steel tin but this is the new village post office, for Kempsey, near Worcester.

The 21ft vandal-proof steel cabin will replace the one in Post Office Lane which closed nearly two years ago when the postmaster retired.

Since then villagers have had to use post offices in Worcester and the parish council has been searching for new a sub-postmaster to work in the cabin At a parish council meeting on Monday, chairman Terry Ward said the cabin was successfully delivered on Sunday and a candidate for the job is currently going through the Post Office’s process of approval.

Coun Ward said they can’t offer any guarantees as to when it will be open.

He said: “We have found a candidate but it is a very long-winded process.

“Once the candidate gets the go-ahead then we can push on with the project.”

The cabin is situated next to the community centre in Main Road and is fitted with its own toilet, wash basin, water heater and cupboards.

We previously reported how the parish secured a service counter from a post office in Salisbury, including lockable drawers, a dropped till and a dropped safe, for £2,180 (the parish council had allowed a budget of £3,900 for the counter).

The entire project will cost about £17,000 – £8,000 from the parish, £4,500 from Worcestershire County Council, £2,000 from Malvern Hills District Council and £2,000 of EU money. At the moment it is scheduled to be open for 20 hours Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4.30pm with scope to increase the hours if the business justifies it.

Coun Ward said: “The opening hours all form part of the discussions with the candidate and the post office.

“The plan is to start small and build up from there. Once it gets going I think it will be very successful.”

Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend this meeting.