WHEN the post office was threatened with closure, the residents of Stillington did not lament the passing of another part of village life.

They didn't even bother writing to complain or begging Post Office bosses to think again.

Instead, in a remarkable display of people power, they bought it for themselves.

In less than a year they managed to raise £135,000 - more than enough money to give the small post office a very bright future.

The facility in the village, near Easingwold, North Yorkshire, was threatened with closure when post mistress Jenny Nesbitt and her husband, Stan, announced they would be leaving, almost a year ago.

Yesterday, they handed the keys over - but not to estate agents. Instead, they presented the business to the people of Stillington.

"We held a meeting in early March and 110 villagers attended. There was an outcry about what was going to happen to our much-needed post office," said resident Andrew Harrison.

"Ten people decided they would set up the Stillington Community Association Limited (SCA), which organised the ways and means to raise the cash needed to keep the facility."

Mr Harrison, chairman of the association, said 200 people each gave £10 to become a shareholder of the SCA and many more people gave donations of between £10 and £1,000.

A substantial bank loan and £30,000 in bonds were also added to the pot to make the sale possible.

The icing on the cake for the SCA was a £49,250 grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which helped to secure the residents' bid for the business.

"Closing the post office would have been a huge loss to the village - it is a lifeline for so many people, particularly the elderly," said Mr Harrison.

The small amenity combines a post office with a village shop, which the SCA hopes will be able to stock local farmers' produce and groceries. Following the change over in the next few days, it will be run by three part-time local employees.

"The residents of Stillington have pulled together in magnificent fashion to bring the co-operative project to fruition, showing great community spirit and a determination that a vital village resource should not be lost," said Brian Handley, of SCA.