AT a time when so many post offices are closing, Ludgershall is bucking the trend with a new facility open for business.

Ludgershall Post Office in the village high street opened on Monday and was immediately busy as the old facility in Andover Road had been closed the previous week and villagers were anxious to see what was on offer.

The new post office is of a more modern style to the traditional outlet and offers the only banking facilities in the village following the closure of the last bank branch in 2000.

New postmistress Sue Gardner, said: "We have a modern, open plan system which enables us to deal with people face to face rather than from behind a screen which is more comfortable and keeps everything friendly.

"There is an area with a screen when people are paying in larger sums and this has to be in a secure environment."

She added: "The reaction from the village has been fantastic.

"Had we not decided to do this, after Tesco said they didn't want a post office, it would have meant the village was without a post office.

"So to keep it going we decided to do it. Although I have worked in the retail environment it has been a complete change to running a grocery and off-licence."