JUBILANT campaigners are celebrating a Government deal which should help to secure the future of post offices in West Somerset and across the country.

Post Office Ltd announced on Tuesday that it had struck a seven-year agreement with the Department of Transport to continue to deliver DVLA services - the car licensing division.

Securing the vital contract, thought to be worth at least £450 million, will mean post offices will have the right to issue motor vehicle licences, driving licence photocard renewals, statutory off road notices (SORN) and duplicate vehicle licences.

But crucially, it will also provide Post Office Ltd with a gateway to offer other Government department services without having to go through a full procurement exercise.

The news was greeted with delight by Brian Tyner, who has run Williton Post Office with his wife Caroline for the past six years.

The village outlet was one of four post offices in West Somerset - the others were Dulverton, Porlock and Minehead - which would have been hard hit if the contract had been lost.

The Tyners launched a petition, signed by almost 3,000 people, calling for the work to be retained by the post office network.

"This is a a huge relief and we are just so pleased," said Mr Tyner.

"We would have been saying goodbye to about 20 per cent of our business and that would have killed off a lot of post offices."

Mr Tyner said retaining the work was not the only benefit.

"This framework deal will open the door for other work - it is a big step forward.

"We are so grateful for the support of all the people who signed the petition."

Post Office Ltd chief executive Paula Vennells described the deal as another key stepping stone to the company realising its vision to become a front office of Government.

"We are absolutely delighted to have won this important framework contract for local branches to provide services on behalf of the DVLA," she said.

"It is welcome news for everybody at the Post Office and is testimony to the quality of our trusted employees and sub-postmasters whose long-standing commitment to efficiently delivering essential services to local communities contributed greatly to this successful outcome."

Ms Vennells said the campaign by the National Federation of Sub-postmasters during the bid process demonstrated the strength of feeling that many sub-postmasters held for what was an important area of business.