PENSIONERS are furious at a three-week delay in the 50-yard relocation of their village post office.

Fawley Post Office was supposed to be closed for only three days during the move but is still shut.

Many elderly residents are having to catch buses to neighbouring villages to draw their weekly pensions.

The Post Office is blaming unforeseen technical problems.

Doreen Hosey, 75, of Chapel Lane, said: "People are getting very irate about it. It's disgusting. They knew the post office was going to close. Why didn't they get this sorted before then.

"There are quite of lot of old people in Fawley. It's just not on. I don't think its good enough."

Mrs Hosey added: "They could have had the decency to at least put a notice in the window to explain the reason for the delay."

"For a communication company they don't seem to be very good."

Postmistress Kath Porter shut the old post office in The Square on May 6 after working there for 45 years.

She retired at 60 to take her first holiday for 17 years.

The new post office counter inside the nearby Fawley Express store was supposed to be opened three working days later.

Fawley parish council chairman Alexis McEvoy said: "You wonder whether they will find it not possible to open after all."

Post Office spokesman Sue Dakin said: "It's a problem related to the BT network and couldn't have been foreseen in planning the relocation.

"We are working closely with BT on the problem. The delay in opening is of great concern to us because it inconveniences our customers and we trust they will stay with us.

"We are doing everything we can to open it as soon as possible."