CUSTOMERS at a Darlington post office branch are to be without services for a day, while modernisation work is carried out.

Post Office bosses have announced plans to update their branch in West Auckland Road, Cockerton, with work due to get under way early next month.

The work will see the branch transformed, with an open-plan style layout introduced and its opening hours will be extended.

Bosses have worked hard to keep disruption to a minimum and the branch will be closed from 5.30pm on Tuesday, April 2.

It will re-open with a new look at 9am on Thursday, April 4.

In 2008, the branch was subject to speculation that it would fall victim to a round of Post Office closures, but those fears proved unfounded.

The Post Office said its extensive investment programme marked a commitment to maintaining its branches, with a pledge that no more closure proposals will be introduced.

Sue Richardson, the Post Office’s regional manager for the North-East and Scotland, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Cockerton 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.

“This modernisation is part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, which will see some 6,000 branches - about half the Post Office network - converting to new-style branches.

“This investment makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

Following the refurbishment, the Cockerton branch’s opening hours will be extended by more than seven hours per week, including the later closing time of 5.30pm on Saturdays.

The revamped Cockerton Post Office will have five serving counters for customers to use - a mixture of four screened positions and a retail counter.

During the refurbishment works, customers are encouraged to use the main post office in Crown Street, in Darlington town centre, or the Branksome branch, in Whitby Way.

The Post Office, now independent of Royal Mail, is the largest retail network in the UK, with more than 11,500 branches.