Aspatria’s Post Office in Cumbria has reopened inside the town’s Spar store, six months after closing due to the retirement of the postmaster.

The reopening was marked by a speech from mayor of Aspatria Stephanie Maxwell and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Initially, the Post Office counter will be open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm and between 9am and 12:30pm on Saturdays. It will be closed on Sundays.

Services currently offered include letter and parcel handling, personal and business banking, bill payments, and DVLA car tax renewal. The counter also operates a Euro currency service on demand; travel money cards will be stocked, and US dollars can be pre-ordered.

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Evri and Amazon return and collect delivery services will be introduced soon, alongside extended opening hours of 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm at weekends.

Fiona Drummond, company stores director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, owner of Spar Aspatria, said: “Our initial offer of services and the counter’s opening hours will soon be improved, and we are working quickly to achieve this. Our friendly and dedicated Spar store team will be able to keep the community updated on progress and they are looking forward to welcoming existing and new customers into the store.”

Adam Shillcock, partnerships account manager at the Post Office, added: “Aspatria is a rural location and a town with a significant population, so we are very pleased to have the Post Office service reopened again for the benefit of the community.”

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