THERE is fresh hope vital post office services could be restored in a rural community.

Villagers in Halkyn have been left without the facility after the village post office closed its doors on April 21. But now Halkyn Councillor Colin Legg says Post Office Ltd is in talks with various parties about the possibility of resuming the service.

He said: “We are hoping someone else is going to take on the service in Halkyn. Exactly where I can’t say, but we are hopeful post office services can be resumed, not necessarily in the old post office, but the Post Office has been in touch to say it is looking at several possibilities.”

The former postmaster and postmistress Bob and Ann Sykes ran the village post office for the past 15 years, but retired due to ill health.

Cllr Legg said pensioners in the village, particularly the residents of Och’r y Bryn retirement bungalows, have lost their lifeline.

He said: “The loss of the post office is very serious, particularly for pensioners. I can go to Pentre Halkyn Post Office, but the parking isn’t very good.

“These people in their offices in London suggest Flint is the obvious post office to go to, but if you don’t drive it means at least two buses because you have to go via Holywell. It has put pensioners at a great disadvantage.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “We are in discussion with a third party about providing post office services to the community in Halkyn, following the resignation of the former subpostmaster last month.

“We apologise to residents for this temporary service closure, but we remain committed to resuming services as soon as practically possible. In the meantime, customers can use the most convenient post office branch. The nearest branches are at Pentre Halkyn and at Church Street, Flint.”