Allerton Post Office now in thelocal on Allerton Road

At the start of the year, it was announced Allerton's Post Office in Heron Foods would close at the start of June. 

At the time, a Post Office spokesperson said: “The operator for Allerton Post Office resigned last June and the branch is due to close at the current location at the start of June.

"The vacancy has been advertised and we have an interested applicant.”

Postmistress Umaben Patel, and her brother Zahid Abbas, will now run the Post Office out of their shop 'thelocal' on Allerton Road.

Umaben Patel is the new postmistress (Image: Newsquest)

'People were worried'

Mr Abbas felt he and his family had to do something to address the worry caused by news of the closure. 

He said: "There was a Post Office in Heron Food which is around 200 metres from here. 

"We heard the news that they were closing the Post Office in June and when that hit the community everyone was worried.

"Everybody was coming to our shop and our customers were worried at what was happening. There are a lot of older people in the community.

"We asked for an opportunity to help the community. This business has been here for more than 12 years.

"We requested a Post Office and after all the legalities we have opened it up.

"A lot of people have been coming in with happy faces, glad that we are here."

The community came out to celebrate the opening (Image: Newsquest)

Lord Mayor cuts the ribbon

Lord Mayor Councillor Bev Mullaney attended the grand opening of the Post Office and cut the red ribbon on Friday lunchtime.

It was all smiles as the community welcomed the Post Office back to the village.

Gift bags and food were also handed out by the pair to celebrate the occasion.

"It is our first Post Office. We are very excited," added Mr Abbas.

"We have had a training week and now it is officially open.

"The closest one (when the Allerton Post Office closed) was two miles away so for the older people it was kind of impossible.

"There are a lot of smiling faces coming in."

Lord Mayor Councillor Bev Mullaney (middle) cut the ribbon (Image: Newsquest)

Opening times for Allerton Post Office

The Post Office's website states: "An anchor of UK communities for centuries, Post Office is a commercial business driven by a strong social purpose: to be here, in person, for the people who rely on us."

The Allerton Post Office will be open from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday.

On Saturday, the times change slightly to 9am to 3pm.