CARHAMPTON has been without a post office since last Friday when the office, which is part of the village’s general stores, closed suddenly due to what were described as ‘unforeseen circumstances’.

This week, as residents were forced to travel to Dunster, Watchet or Minehead for postal services, a Post Office spokesman said they were ‘currently investigating the options available for reinstating the service in the local community’.

After the shock closure, store owner Gary Thrush, who operates the post office as an outreach branch from Watchet, said that discussions were continuing with Watchet and the Post Office and that he hoped the situation would be resolved shortly.

He told the Free Press he felt unable to make any further comment.

This week, a resident who uses the post office regularly said: “It would be a tragedy if it was permanently closed. It is a vital lifeline for the village, particularly for the older residents. We all hope that things will soon be back to normal.”

For the full story see this week’s West Somerset Free Press.