A SHOP owner of 20 years has saved a village from losing their post office.

Jane Coates, who has owned The Paper Shop in Stanhope for 23 years, was asked to house a post office after the previous postmaster, of a few doors down, announced he was retiring.

“I said yes straight away, there’s been a lot of training involved but everyone has been so lovely and kind," she said.

“I hope it will be good for the business and the community, keeping the service local.”

If Ms Coates had not agreed to take on the post office, the village would have lost the service.

Beryl Brown, chairman of the Stanhope Community Association and Ms Coates’ mother, opened the newly located post office.

She said: “Today is a special day which has been long in the planning stages. From now it will continue to provide essential services as part of the local community for years to come.

“It is so important that we keep these facilities local, for people in the area.”

The post office is now open seven days a week, from 5am to 7pm.