Post Office hit by flood set to reopen in May

Framlingham was one of the worst-hit towns in Suffolk when Storm Babet struck with 70 homes and businesses affected by flooding

A Post Office branch that was forced to close after being flooded during Storm Babet is due to reopen in May.

A team of builders has been working since January to repair October's damage to the building in Framlingham, Suffolk.

Since November, the business has been operating from a temporary location at Bridge Street, which is home to the Framlingham Toy Shop.

Postmaster Roger Tripp has praised the builders who have worked on his flood-hit premises and he says he is now eager to get back to his former site on Riverside.

Postmaster Roger Tripp is planning to move back to his former site in May after he was forced to relocate the business following Storm Babet

''It's looking really good and we're absolutely delighted with how it's all coming together," said Mr Tripp.

"The builders have been fantastic; they've really cracked on and we are hoping to be back at some point in May.''

He said he was very grateful to have moved temporarily into the Toy Shop run by Bill Bulstrode and said it was also crucial for local people.

''The trouble was Barclays Bank had closed in August and I was the only financial institution left in the town, so it was paramount that I tried to open as soon as possible to provide a banking service.

''We were able to open up in Bulstrode's which was heaven-sent so we could offer a service, but it will be lovely to get back.''

Listen: Framlingham- The town without a bank

Mr Tripp said the flood water rose to two feet in the building when the River Ore burst its banks on 20 October and the Post Office counter was ''destroyed and then you could see all the wooden flooring and the wood on the walls was buckling and mould was growing'.'

In November 2023 the Post Office was moved to a temporary space provided by another business in the town