Pensioner Kenneth Lambert would rather drive three miles to a post office in a nearby village than walk to one nearer his home in Silsden.

He prefers the warm welcome and kind faces at Cross Hills post office in the village's Main Street.

And his gratitude, expressed in a letter to Post Office bosses, has helped staff win the West Yorkshire 1998 Best Post Office in the Community competition.

Other loyal customers also heaped praise on post mistress Sharon Smith - who runs the post office with help from her mum, Muriel Gee - for the service they receive and the role it plays in the community.

Over the past two years staff have raised £1,400 for Steeton-based Airedale Hospital's children's unit and £1,100 for Manorlands hospice, in Oxenhope.

And when Mr Lambert had a heart attack four years ago, they regularly asked about his health when his daughter Pauline Clay, also of Silsden, went to collect his pension.

Mr Lambert, 71, whose wife Doreen died in 1993, said: "Nothing is any trouble for Sharon and Muriel. Nobody loses patience. Everyone is very helpful. They are thoughtful and very pleasant.''

Mrs Gee, who is running the post-office this week while Sharon is on holiday, said: "We are very pleased and excited and appreciate all the praise.

"It is a very nice community and we love working here."

Mrs Gee ran the business with her husband Edward for 15 years before her daughter took over this year.

A Post Office spokesman said over 6,000 customers in Post Office Counters North East Region wrote in to nominate their post offices and Cross Hills was one of six area winners in the region. It wins £100 as well as a certificate.

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