PENHILL Post Office is being modernised and it’s opening hours will increase by 52.5 hours a week.

The post office, in McColls, Braydon Court, will be refurbished to create a new open-plan branch.

Post Office local is a new concept for delivering Post Office services and the new Penhill Post Office will have an open plan till at the retail counter where Post Office products and services will be available alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours, instead of from a separate screened counter.

Post Office customers will benefit from opening hours being extended to 113 hours and 30 minutes a week as the new branch will be open Monday to Friday 5.30am to 10pm; Saturday 6am to 10pm; Sunday 7am to 10pm.

Penhill Post Office will close for refurbishment on June 18 with the new-look branch scheduled to open on June 23 at 1pm.

The nearest alternative Post Offices are Clive Parade Post Office, 533 Cricklade Road or Upper Statton Post Office, 198 Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton.

Post Office area manager Mark Jacobs said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Penhill and we are confident 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.”