THE future of Langcliffe Post Office has been secured.

The post office and village shop was under threat earlier this year after sub postmistress for the past 18 years, Veronica Meredith, announced she wanted to step down.

But with nobody coming forward to take over the business, the only way forward seemed to be cutting the opening hours.

"I was retirement age in April and I wanted more time for my family, but I didn't want the post Office to close," explained Veronica.

Now, she and Langcliffe resident Alison Fawcett have come up with a job share deal meaning the shop can continue opening 37 hours a week and Veronica can semi retire.

"It's really, really good news. It can stay open 37 hours a week, which is very good for a rural post office.

"We do everything except motor vehicle licensing and passports. We do pensions, holiday insurance, all the post office services and now you can pay your council tax at post offices too. I, and any other sub postmaster, am only too happy to go through any of the arrangements for pensions with people if they are unsure.

"The post office is also the village shop, which is a vital service in the village," said Veronica.

Alison, who has been clerk to Langcliffe Parish Council for the last seven years, came up with idea of a job share.

"I reached a time in my life where I wanted to do something but didn't want to have to move away from Langcliffe. It gives me the chance to keep on doing all the other things I do and it is very handy.

"I felt it would have been a pity if the shop had been lost and the idea just grew really."

Langcliffe Post Office has been saved once before.

In 1998 it had to move out of its existing premises and a campaign was launched to find it a new home and save the service. It successfully moved into a converted garage just round the corner.