A brewery has called time on a pint-sized post office which operated from inside a village pub - because it is a security risk.

For almost two years regulars had been able to pop into the Cross Keys for a beer ... and a book of stamps.

But the part-time post office has been forced out of the historic inn at White Notley, between Braintree and Witham after brewery bosses decided it was a security risk.

Instead they want to give it a new home by converting a derelict shed behind the grade two listed pub.

Ridley spokeswoman Jayne Hansell said: "We really didn't think it was suitable to have people walking in and out of the bar. But we have agreed to restore some outbuildings so there will be a new all-singing, all-dancing post office in the village.

"The previous tenants agreed to have it in the pub, but the new ones felt it wasn't suitable for security reasons, and I have got to agree with them - it wasn't ideal."

White Notley postmistress Betty Bright admitted serving customers shoulder-to-shoulder with pub-goers in the makeshift shop had been "different".

But amazingly the pub-based post office still delivered a first-class range of services although villagers did have to use an outside postbox for their mail.

"We haven't had anywhere permanent since the village shop closed three years ago," said Mrs Bright, who took over in 1996.

"But nobody has ever complained. We didn't want to lose the post office and it's better to have it in a bar than not have one at all."

Now villagers have been forced to travel to Black Notley for their nearest post office.

Mrs Bright said she was looking forward to moving into the new premises once they are ready.

The overgrown shed was last used as a radio repair workshop. It is in a sorry state of repair but the brewery is confident it can be converted.

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