Edward VIII post office given temporary reprieve

The building, which dates back to 1936, is one of a handful to feature the cypher of Edward VIII, who abdicated that December

A high street post office, which is one of only a handful to feature the cypher of Edward VIII, has been temporarily saved from closure.

The Front Street branch in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was among 115 to be put at risk as part of a business restructure.

The Post Office has now confirmed the branch will be taken over by franchisee Richard Fleetwood who already runs sites in Newcastle, Hebburn and Washington.

It said the branch would continue to operate on the same site until "long-term arrangements" were finalised.

North Durham Labour MP Luke Akehurst said he had been told any move to a new location was unlikely to happen before spring 2026 and this would be subject to a local public consultation.

He previously said the building, which dates back to 1936, holds "historical significance" due to its links with the king who was never crowned and who abdicated later that year to marry Wallis Simpson.

The shake-up of the Post Office's branch network was revealed by the company's chairman Nigel Railton in November.

The government-owned business has 11,500 branches across the UK.

While most sites are franchises, 108 of them are currently owned directly by the company.

It was feared some branches would be permanently shut but in April the firm announced the sites would be taken over by franchisees subject to government funding.

Other Crown Post Offices being taken over by Mr Fleetwood in north-east England include branches in South Shields and Sunderland.