PLANS to move the Post Office in Thirsk have been welcomed as a benefit to customers and as a safeguard for the business.

At present Thirsk Post Office is based in the Co-op store in the Market Place where concerns have been raised about the lack of space.

Now plans have been entered to move the business along the Market Place to locate it in the bigger Somerfield supermarket.

The Co-operative Group plans to shift the Post Office 50-yards to the other supermarket.

Councillor Janet Watson, of Thirsk Town Council, said: "It has to be better than where it is.

"The Post Office staff are great but they only have a small space so it would be good for them to have more space.

"There has been concerns about the lack of space and the large queues and there must be a reason for while they are doing it.

"Somerfield is a bigger store but I wonder why they are moving there.

"This could help secure the future of the Post office in Thirsk although I’d rather have a stand alone Post Office than one in a shop."

The scheme is out to consultation and the Post Office hopes to have the responses in by December 8.

Angela Bettison, field change adviser for the Post Office, said: "Our priority is to safeguard post office services for the local community in the longer term.

"The relocation of Thirsk Post Office allows us to do this as well as to improve the facilities.

"The new branch will have a new serving counter and level access with a wide automatic door to assist our customers with mobility difficulties.

"It would also offer the same range of Post Office products and services."