The owners of Woolbrook’s post office have assured users services will not be disrupted as it is incorporated into a vets’ practice – but it could still go to a mystery new applicant.

Bob and Doreen Cummins plan to leave their stop and retire, but have been left in limbo for months while a new taker for the post office is found.

It was set to be taken on by a neighbouring newsagents until the proprietors pulled out, and could now be incorporated into a veterinary surgery – or taken on by another nearby business yet to be revealed.

Subpostmistress Doreen said: “Woolbrook post office is not closing – it’s not even on the cards, and that’s government policy. There are no plans to close them.

“The Post Office has agreed in principle that it could be a vets’ and a post office, and it wouldn’t be the first.”

Users gave the nod to a move to Woolbrook News where the post office would have opened as a ‘new-style’ branch with extended opening hours and improved accessibility.

But owners Benedict and Lydia Mansi decided against taking it on after saying their business would have run at a loss.

Veterinarian Peter Martin submitted two applications for a practice, one with a post office and one without, both of which were approved.

He now hopes to take on the post office and run it alongside his small animal surgery, but had originally hoped to run it with a sole purpose.

“It’s not gone ahead as we would have liked but I’m still optimistic we’ll get in there.

“We’re still determined to get into that space – it’s a great location for a vets’ and we’ve already got a following building.”

Peter said the move would probably happen in the new year, but he first has to apply to the Post Office.

A Post Office spokesman said: “We are progressing an application from a prospective new agent interested in operating Post Office services in Woolbrook.

“We are currently working with the interested party to progress their application, and if successful, we will publish a new proposal for the provision of Post Office services in the area. Any new proposal will be the subject of a further period of public consultation.”