A POST Office branch is to close and the services move into a shop.

Witton Gilbert Post Office, at Springwell House, Newton Street, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, will close at noon on Wednesday, February 26.

The new facility, in McColls, Sacriston Lane, will open at 1pm the next day.

Customers are advised to use Sacriston Post Office during the brief absence of services.

The new facility will be open plan and have longer opening hours: 6am to 10pm, seven days a week.

The move is part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network which bosses say will mean no more branches close.

Suzanne Richardson, the Post Office’s regional network manager, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Durham and we are confident that this new modern Post Office will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.”