'Sad day' as most southerly Post Office to close

Linda Trott said the community in Lizard village had been very welcoming since they took over the post office in 1988

England's most southerly Post Office is set to close next month as its long-term tenants move on after nearly four decades.

Len and Linda Trott took over running The Lizard Post Office, Cornwall, in 1988.

Mr Trott, 79, who is retiring, said it would be a "sad day" as the peninsula had had its own post office for more than 120 years.

The Post Office said it was inviting potential tenants to come forward and run the shop but no-one had done so yet. It said the facility would close on Wednesday 4 December at 17:00 GMT.

The post office retains many of its original features including a wooden counter

Originally from Surrey, Mr and Mrs Trott said they moved to The Lizard in 1988 and were quickly accepted by local people.

Mrs Trott said: "Despite being from upcountry, we were welcomed warmly... as soon as we said we weren't going to change anything.

"We were told the people were very Cornish here, but they were very nice and let us in quite quickly because they needed the Post Office.

"We're very much a pillar of the community."

The Post Office itself was built in 1897 and still has many of its historic features, including the original wooden counter and a solid wooden desk with brass handles.

Mr Scott still uses scale to weigh letters and even banknotes

Mr Trott said he preferred doing things the old way and had been "dragged kicking and screaming" into the new computer systems the Post Office now relied on.

He still uses an old set of scales to weigh letters - and even bundles of banknotes.

"I weigh each bundle of £1,000 against each other to make sure they're right," he added.

The couple said they had not been caught up in the Post Office scandal, in which hundreds of sub-postmasters were accused or convicted of theft and fraud because of a faulty computer system called Horizon.

Mrs Trott said: "We're very lucky. We've seen the pain and anguish it caused for others."

Opened in 1898, the building has been a Post Office ever since

Asked how he felt about saying goodbye to the Post Office, Mr Trott said: "It was built as a Post Office in 1897 and opened in 1898.

"It's been a Post Office ever since - it's really a sad day that it's going to close.

"I turn 80 soon, I've had some health issues [and] we've been here 36 years, so I think I've done my bit."

'Long and loyal service'

The Post Office said Mr and Mrs Trott had gone "above and beyond" for their community.

"Len and Linda Trott have served The Lizard community for 36 years," it said.

"They have now decided to take a well-earned retirement.

"We want to sincerely thank this couple for their long and loyal service."

It said the vacancy to run the The Lizard's Post Office was being advertised on its website and it welcomed interest from retailers.

"In the interim, the nearest alternative branch is at Ruan Minor or at Mullion," it said.