SALTERFORTH Post Office is to reopen next month in the village's Baptist church.

It used to be run by parish councillor Fiona Hanson from her kitchen in Moor View, but after deciding to move to Barnoldswick she closed the office on August 21.

Since that time villagers have had to travel to Kelbrook or Barnoldswick to use the post offices there and an appeal was made by the Post Office for a local resident to take on the service.

John Tidswell, postmaster at West Marton Post Office has offered to step into the breach and will be running the service from the Baptist church on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9am until 12 noon.

He said: "It seemed a shame to allow it to close when all the local pensioners really rely upon it."

Mr Tidswell added that a counter was being built at the Baptist church and he would be taking a mobile kit with him similar to a lap top to run the service.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "After the recent announcement of closures of post office branches in Colne, this news is splendid. I am sure that everyone living in Salterforth will breath a sigh of relief. "