A LEIGH post office which has confirmed it is relocating just next door will have extended opening hours and become a new modern open-plan branch.

The Post Office has agreed to move Rochford Corner Post Office next door into Londis, 157-159 Rayleigh Road, Leigh, early next year.

Kugathas Markandu will remain as the Postmaster with the Post Office moving into his existing convenience store, Londis.

The date of the move will be confirmed in the near future.

Rochford Corner will open as a modern open-plan “local plus” style branch with extended opening hours.

Post Office local is a new concept for delivering Post Office services from an open-plan till at the shop counter instead of from a separate screened counter.

Rochford Corner branch would be a local plus style branch with enhanced local services including manual banking (non-barcoded transactions), Transcash, and Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide International parcels. Payment by cheque will still be accepted.

Services will be provided throughout shop opening hours Monday to Sunday, 7am to 10pm. This will offer an extra 59 hours a week of Post Office service including all-day Sunday and Saturday afternoon.

The branch will also open significantly earlier and close later daily.

The relocation is part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.

Will Russell, Regional Manager, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Leigh and we are confident that this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”