A VILLAGE’S High Street post office will close next month with services moving into a supermarket.

Rowhedge Post Office will close on September 16 at 1pm, and the new branch will open at the Co-op store in Regent Street 24 hours later.

Postmaster Simon Sharp said the move is a sign of the times.

He will not be running the new service.

He said: “The move towards digital means the Government is no longer willing to subsidise old-style post offices.

“These types of shops are getting untenable.”

Mike Lilley, borough councillor for Rowhedge, welcomed the fact the village is keeping a post office.

He said: “Years ago the post office was in danger of closing and moving out of the village.

“The High Street shop was too small, but it was still well used.

“The new shop will still provide the same services. It is really great Co-op can take it on.”

A spokesman for Post Office says the new opening hours mean the post office will be open an extra 67 hours a week, including all days on Sunday.

Roger Grosvenor, executive officer for the East of England Co-op, said: “We wanted to do the right thing in keeping post office services local.

“We know from experience an in-store post office service brings many benefits to customers.”