Sidford residents could soon have access to extended post office services if a proposed relocation goes ahead.

The Post Office plans to open a ‘local-style’ branch - with longer opening hours - in the Spar shop in Church Street as part of what it is calling ‘a major modernisation process’.

This will mean the current post office in School Street will no longer operate.

If the move goes ahead, the new, open-plan service would be open Monday to Sunday, from 7am to 10pm.

This would amount to 58 hours and 30 minutes-a-week more than is currently available.

Under the proposed changes, post office users would no longer be able to buy travel insurance on demand, send Parcelforce Worldwide International parcels or pay by cheque.

Changes would be effective from this summer.

Owners of Sidford Post Office, Suzanne and Andrew Whitby, have said they are supportive of the proposals as it means the village will retain its services.

A Post Office spokesperson said the proposal is a new concept for delivering services from an open-plan till at the shop counter, instead of from a separate screened counter, throughout shop opening hours.

Post Office regional manager, Will Russell, said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Sidford and we are confident that this new modern 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.”

School Street resident, Colin Kingman, said: “We would rather the post office stayed where it is, but if that’s not possible, at least we will still have the services to use.

Post Office Ltd is inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the move in a six-week public consultation.

Any feedback from customers, and particular issues they would like to be considered, can be submitted before a final decision on the proposal is made.

Submissions can be made during the consultation by freepost to YOUR COMMENTS, Post Office Ltd, or via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk.

There is also a customer helpline number people can call on 08457 223344 or textphone 08457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online through the questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 31551999.

The consultation will close on May 26, 2015.