Montford Bridge post service and store closes down

A Shropshire village store and Post Office outreach service has closed down.

Montford Bridge general store in Holyhead Road survived for two years after the full Post Office counter was shut, but closed on Friday.

Sam Gant who co-ran the shop said passing trade had dropped since Royal Mail introduced the new limited service to save money across its network.

She said she would have been happy to break even but had been making a loss.

Royal Mail said: "Outreach services are an innovative way to provide customers with access to Post Office products and services in communities where a traditional Post Office is not viable or practical."

'Elderly are vulnerable'

It said there were other post offices within three miles of Montford Bridge.

Sam Gant said: "I think it's really important to have a village shop. It's not about money, it's about the fact there is a door open and if somebody doesn't come for their paper that day, you're then concerned about what's happened.

"Without places like us, the elderly are very vulnerable. It's just sad we won't be able to provide that service anymore.

"It doesn't matter how much or how little anybody spends in the shop, a village should have a village shop."