VILLAGERS in Kempsey will soon have a new post office – more than a year after the last one closed.

Kempsey’s new post office will open at the back of the village’s community centre in spring next year.

Worcestershire County Council has also promised £4,500 towards the project on top of the £8,000 pledged by the parish council.

Further grant bids by the parish council are in the pipeline with applications to Malvern Hills District Council and a possibility of European funding.

The Royal Mail is also expected to pay for some of the set-up costs.

Terry Ward, Kempsey Parish Council chairman, said: “We’re walking before we can run.

“It will offer all the things a normal post office does. Things such as benefits and parcels.

“There will be an opportunity, if the post master wishes, to sell financial services.”

He added that setting up the new post office would cost up to £17,000. A volunteer has already been found to run the outpost.

The community centre is owned by the parish council, but the new post office will need planning permission.

Villagers have been without a post office since November 2008, when the previous post master resigned. Ironically, Kempsey had escaped the round of cuts to the service imposed by Royal Mail last year.

A meeting between Mr Ward and planners will be held in the next two weeks to discuss submitting a formal planning proposal to the district council.