A POST office has been forced to close in Yate after the couple in charge were unable to find a new owner.

North Road Post Office shut its doors at 2.30pm on Saturday as John and Teresa Swindell retired after 22 years running the business.

Mr Swindell, 67, and Mrs Swindell, 64, had been trying to find someone to take over for three years.

This has left residents in North Road and the surrounding area without a post office, which they described as a "big loss" for the community.

“We are very sad that we have to close and know it is unfortunate for the local community," Mr Swindell said.

 “We have enjoyed running the office as it made us feel to be very much in the community, but with my age, I naturally want to retire and have tried to sell up for a long time, dropping the price with a lot of interest but no sale.

“We’ve had lots of people tell us they’re sad to see it go, but there does come a time when you have to look after your own affairs."

For Engine Common Lane resident Duncan Goodland, the closure of the post office is  a huge blow.

The 64-year-old said: “I used the post office regularly with it being so close by and I think it’s such a shame it is now closing.

“It’s going to be a big loss and has been a real community place with lots of older people meeting there for a chat and using the office.

“The nearest service is now in the town centre where there will be traffic and parking to deal with.”

However, there is hope that North Road pub The Codrington Arms will incorporate post office services on its premises.

Landlady Jemma Hale, 32, said: “There is a separate building behind the pub where we hope to move the service to, with a shop as well, to benefit the community as much as possible.

“Originally the post office said the hours of the service would have to reflect those of the pub, so would stay open quite late, but they have now said if it goes ahead we could run our own opening hours.

“We hope that everything goes through and the post office and shop will be up and running in a couple of months.”

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said: “We are committed to maintaining a Post Office in Yate. We have advertised the vacancy of the post office and there is an interested applicant who wants to take on the Post Office. We are currently in discussion. We hope to soon be in a position to start a six-week public consultation re plans to relocate to these new premises.”