A MONMOUTHSHIRE village’s Post Office which residents feared might have been closed down has been saved after a new postmaster was found to take it over.

Magor residents turned out in force with banners in the rain when the Argus came to photograph support for the campaign to keep its Post Office open in November.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition supporting the campaign, spearheaded by Magor’s county councillor Frances Taylor and backed by Newport East’s MP Jessica Morden and AM John Griffiths.

Now that works has paid off and the Post Office will remain in its current place in Magor Square.

Cllr Taylor, who represents the Mill ward, told the Argus: “It is really, really fantastic news. This is happening everywhere and I hope it may give some people heart.

“It is a positive story, it is nice to have some good news. So many people were worried about this.”

She said she had been told by Post Office staff on seeing the campaign: “People are always passionate about their Post Office but we have been struck by Magor and how much they care and how many people wrote [to them].”

Residents had packed into the village’s Golden Lion pub to back the campaign for a meeting on November 17.

They feared that once the current postmistress left, the Post Office could have been moved or the service lost in its entirely as a result of the Post Office Limited’s Network Transformation Process.

In November couple Mike Mason and his wife Vera, who are both blind, said keeping the Post Office open was critical for them.

Mr Mason said: “It contributes to independent living. It means that we can perform certain banking transactions in a trusted customer service-based environment, with timely help in order to withdraw cash and pay in cheques which requires help with completing paying-in slips.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “Through the work of the local field team we are delighted that we have found a solution enabling us continue to provide a Post Office service for the community of Magor.

"We understand how much the local community values their Post Office service. We are also very grateful that the existing agent at Magor Post Office continued to provide a service whilst our field team were working hard to find a viable solution.”