A POST Office will close next week for a two-week refurbishment.

The Post Office in Willington is to be modernised during the fortnight of work.

Once the refurbishment is complete, the office on High Street will have three serving positions.

One will be screened, the second open-plan, with the third a Post Office serving point at the retail counter where most transactions can be made throughout shop opening hours

Post Office Area Manager Anne Clark said: “We understand how important Post Office services are to the people of Willington and we are confident that this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.”

Opening hours at the modernised branch will be 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, with selected Post Office products and services available at the retail counter from 6am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 9pm on Sunday.

The Post Office will close for refurbishment at 5.30pm on Thursday (May 15) and reopen at 1pm on Thursday, May 29.

Customers are being directed to Hunwick Post Office on Wear View in Hunwick or Crook Post Office at the Co-op on New Road in Crook while the work is carried out.

Ms Clark said: “This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”