A VITAL service will return to a west Cumbrian high street following its closure earlier this year.

Egremont Post Office will re-open at 1pm today (Wednesday, August 9) at a new location in Egremont Travel on Main Street.

The previous Post Office which was based in McColl’s closed in January after Morrisons announced the closure of 132 McColl's stores across the UK.

The new Post Office will see the return of postmaster, Brian Skirrow, who ran the original Egremont Post Office for 18 years before taking an eight-year hiatus.

Claire Shackley, who will be working as an assistant at the new branch, said: “We are nearly there now. For the past three weeks we’ve had people coming in asking if we are already open.

“Post Offices are definitely still needed on the high street. The number of people who rely on the services – especially the elderly. They were getting buses elsewhere and now they can just walk to Main Street again.”

Whitehaven News: The new Post Office in Egremont will open to the public at 1pm todayThe new Post Office in Egremont will open to the public at 1pm today (Image: Submitted)

Samuel Williams, Post Office Network Provision Lead, said: “We are delighted to soon be restoring Post Office services to Egremont as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.”

Jean Lewthwaite, an Egremont town councillor, said she welcomed the return of the Post Office to the town.

She said: “It has to be a good thing. We run a business and we’ve had to go to Cleator Moor for the Post Office. It must be easier for elderly people who haven’t got any transport. The town council is right behind it.”

The opening hours will be Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm and Saturday 9am until 12.30pm.

Similar services will continue to be available.