RESIDENTS in Easton on Portland face having to travel across the island to access crucial postal services.

The post office at Reforne announced its closure yesterday at 9am.

Postmistress Susan Beacock, 43, hung a handwritten sign in the window, stating that the office will close tonight at 5.30pm.

Her mother, Kathleen Schofield, 73, has been acting postmistress while Mrs Beacock has been off work with illness.

Mrs Beacock, who has run the office for four years, said she was ‘very sad’ at the closure.

She added: “We wanted to keep going until Christmas, but there’s no financial benefit. Any fes from transactions made in December will be paid in January to whoever is postmaster then. We can’t keep going that long.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by the closure of Easton Post Office.

“However, we are committed to retaining a Post Office service in the area.

“Anyone with an interest in applying for the vacancy should telephone us on 0845 601 6260.”