A postmaster has been praised for his help in stopping Wix Post Office closing for two months.

Staying open - postmaster Mahesh Mistry outside Wix Post Office. (40554-1)

The village lifeline would have had to shut last week for about eight weeks due to a gap in the transfer of the business.

But Mahesh Mistry, postmaster at Upper Dovercourt Post Office, and his team have stepped in post-haste to ensure service is not disrupted.

As well as manning his post office and satellite services at Great Oakley and Little Oakley, Mr Mistry and six others are also keeping Wix Post Office, in Colchester Road, open on a full-time basis.

The changeover would have gone unnoticed by many villagers as the post office was only closed for half-a-day.

Wix parish councillor, Ruth Raymer, said: "He is a champion and I take my hat off to him. It's above and beyond the call of duty."

A Post Office spokesman said: "We want to do anything to stop any disruption to customers during the transfer of business, but it's thanks to Mr Mistry who wants to make sure the community is looked after."

Published Friday, January 21, 2005

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