SCHOOL pupils helped celebrate the relaunch of Axminster Post Office.

New postmaster Gurjeet Bains invited ten pupils from St Mary's RC School, along with mayor of Axminster Cllr Douglas Hull and mayoress Joy Hull to cut the ribbon to unveil the new-look West Street branch.

Pupils from the Lyme Road school also took part in a fun design a stamp competition. Entries were judged by a panel of post office customers including Roger and Linda Lawrence. A winner, from each year group, received a set of Smiler stamps featuring their design.

Mrs Bains said: “The community has been so welcoming to us, which has been marvellous.

"Customers really like the changes that we have made. The branch looks smart and very professional. The open-plan counters make it far easier for staff and customers to talk, without the need to speak loudly.”

Post office services at Axminster are now provided from four modern serving positions - two open-plan counters, one-full screened and an open-plan Post Office service point, offering selected services next to the retail till.

A conversation area has been added for private talks about the wide range of financial services including mortgages, savings, insurances, credit cards and banking.

Axminster Post Office is now open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Saturday. This is an extra 13 hours and 30 minutes of customer services a week, including Saturday afternoon, earlier opening and later closing.

Adrian Skinner, Post Office area manager, said: “We are very proud of the changes at Axminster Post Office and Mrs Bains has quickly settled into her role as postmaster of this busy branch.

"This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future. We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents and businesses.”