A "CRUCIAL" Worth Valley village post office could shut if a buyer is not found soon.

That is the stark warning from Angela Armstrong, the current owner of Cross Roads Post Office, in Halifax Road. The building also accommodates a small convenience store and news agents.

Mrs Armstrong said: “I have been sub postmistress for over 20 years, and my family and I have put a lot of hard work and long hours into the business.

"I have greatly enjoyed running the post office and have made many friends. However, due to personal reasons, it is time for me to move on.

"I have three options, either sell the property and business together, to relocate the post office to another business in the village or as a last resort, to close the business altogether.

"Closing the post office is an option that I would like to avoid if possible, as I feel strongly that it is a vital service for the village and surrounding area and would be sadly missed.”

She stressed that the facility is a central feature of Cross Roads, which is used daily by local residents and businesses as well as by many passing customers.

She added that she has been trying to sell it as a going concern for several years, but without success, noting that her 20 years of experience have shown her that a post office is crucial to the village.

"We've had a really good life here," she said. "And we want to be able to sell on a successful business that we're proud of.

"It's something we feel responsible for, and we don't want to leave a gap behind. There have been some people who've expressed an interest in the business, but for different reasons these approaches haven't worked out."

Worth Valley Ward councillor, Rebecca Poulsen, said she was also very concerned about what the loss of the post office would mean for Cross Roads.

“I share Angela’s frustrations that no-one has come forward to buy the post office and shop," she said.

"If no buyer comes forward we could be left with no post office in the village and this would really affect local people.

"There may be options to move the post office service to another business, and I will be contacting Post Office Ltd about what options could be explored if no buyer comes forward.”

Cllr Gary Swallow, chairman of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council, said: "The loss of the post office in the village would be a very sad thing to see, and would be to the detriment of people living in Cross Roads.

"I hope this item appearing in the Keighley News will stir up some interest, and that someone will take the post office on from Angela and maintain this service in Cross Roads."

Other post offices in the Worth Valley which have closed within the last eight years have included Oxenhope Post Office, in Station Road, and Haworth's Mill Hey Post Office.

Some postal services in Oxenhope were restored after a facility was opened within the village's Co-op store.

People interested in the Cross Roads post office can visit estate agents humberstones.co.uk or call Mrs Armstrong on 01535 642245.