A COMMUNITY today bids farewell to a post office which started life as a wooden hut more than six decades ago.

Broom Post Office, in Ferryhill, will close at 5.30pm today, becoming the second branch in the town to close in a week.

Cleves Cross Post Office shut on Wednesday, as part of a national restructuring programme.

After consultation with customers, MPs and local organisations, it was decided to close two branches and prepare the town's two surviving ones, on Eldon Terrace and Parker Terrace, for extra custom.

Residents of the Dean Road area, served by Broom Post Office, were initially opposed to the closure.

Postmistress Doreen Baker said: "At first, people were upset and wanted to start a petition but when I explained that it's better for us to close now before the business was no longer viable, they understood.

"If we hadn't closed, I think two or three in the town would have been forced to within a year anyway."

Mrs Baker, 52, and assistants Margaret Watson, 52, and Margaret Soppitt, 54, are well-known for raising thousands of pounds for charity at the shop.

The trio supported local good causes including All Saints Day Centre and a window appeal for the local Methodist Chapel.

They also took part in coffee mornings for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Mrs Baker said: "We've got quite involved in fundraising but really all we do is set the ball rolling and the customers make it possible by baking, donating raffle prizes and coming along."

Mrs Watson said: "The customers have always been very supportive and though we all live nearby, we will miss seeing them regularly because we get to know each other really well.

"It is sad for them because many remember the office in the 1940s when it was a hut by the roadside."

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said: "Mrs Baker has provided an excellent service to her customers for the past 17 years, as well as helping to host numerous charity events, and we wish her all the very best for the future."

Maureen Wratter, director of Macmillan Cancer Relief northern regions, also praised the staff.

She said: "Mrs Baker and her colleagues have raised an amazing amount of money to help local people with cancer. We thank her and wish her well."