A LONG-RUNNING community campaign to reinstate a village post office came to fruition yesterday.

The original post office in Collingwood Street, Coundon, County Durham, closed in February last year after the sub-postmaster retired, and a service in nearby Leeholme closed shortly after during national cuts.

The Coundon and Leeholme Community Partnership spent 18 months negotiating with the Post Office to run the service from its newlyrefurbished headquarters at 13 Tees Walk.

The former Wear Valley District Council supported the proposal, and provided funding of £25,000, before it was disbanded in April.

Partnership staff members Dawn Coulson and Vicky Howes have been trained to run the facility, which will open 19 hours a week.

Avril Hamilton, partnership manager, said: “The post office is being run within the enterprising element of the community partnership. It is not-forprofit, rather than being run as a business by a sub-postmaster.”

Lucy Thompson, partnership treasurer, cut the ribbon to officially open the premises, and urged local people to support the facility. “This the community’s post office, but if they don’t use it, they will lose it,” she said.

It is hoped the post office could start selling confectionery, stationery, and greetings cards in the near future.

Opening hours are 9.30am to 2.30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.