A COMMUNITY-run post office was given the civic seal of approval for its “re-birth”.

Wilsden Post Office, in Main Street, officially opened for business once again after a two-year closure following the resignation of the previous postmaster.

The post office was officially opened yesterday by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid and Lady Mayoress, Chris Reid.

Cash pledges from villagers, a grant from the Craven Trust and donations from groups and local businesses have helped raise the £17,500 needed to get the project off the ground for its first year.

The village had been without its post office services but this time is run by the specially-formed Wilsden Community Company CIC (Community Interest Company). It opened its doors to customers on January 26.

A team of 14 people, including 12 volunteers and two full-time paid members of staff; one part-time and one full-time, who help run the site six days a week every day of the year apart from Christmas Day.

Peter Allison, 69, one of the directors of the CIC, said the Post Office has already proved popular with its customers since January.

He said: “Everybody is behind it in Wilsden. The villagers have been positive about the whole business.

“It is a proud day to open. It was a post office for 80 years. This is a re-birth for it.

“We need to build up the business.

“It feels good to be officially opened. It is also a milestone for us as we get the business established.

“We have officially opened two years from when it closed.

“We are still not breaking even but we’re getting there.

“The team of volunteers work when they can.

“We got official approval from the Post Office in October last year.”

The post office is open Monday to Saturday between 8.30am and 2pm and on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 9am to noon.

The site sells goods including newspapers, confectionery, cards and stationery. A range of services are available for personal customers and small businesses including banking, benefits and bill payments.

Wayne Fitch, Post Office manager, said: “I’d like to wish everyone at Wilsden Post Office every success in his new venture.

“We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Wilsden and we are confident that this new modern post office service will meet the needs of the local community.”

Shipley MP Philip Davies, who also attended the official opening, praised the community spirit in the village shown by the project.

He said: “It’s fantastic that it has opened. Wilsden wanted and needs a post office.

“I just think it shows everything about the community spirit in Wilsden, that a group of volunteers has got together to make sure that they have that facility in the village.

“There were a lot of people there who have given up their own time in order to provide that facility for the local community. I take my hat off to them.”

The Post Office is investing £20 million in around 3,400 community branches across the UK after the Government announced a further £640m investment in the Post Office network in 2013.