Plans to shut a village post office on a high street already rocked by closures are “heartbreaking for the people in the community”, residents say.

Those living in Sturry, near Canterbury, say they have been left "incredibly sad" by the news the service - which is run out of the area's pharmacy - will close later this year.

The firm running the chemist, Paydens, stresses it was forced to make the decision to stop hosting the counter because it was no longer financially viable.

But locals fear "everything is disappearing" from the village's high street, as it will be left with just the pharmacy, a Chinese takeaway, vape shop and two dentists when the post office closes.

Sturry councillor Louise Harve-Quirke told KentOnline: “I remember moving here in 1992 - there was a hardware shop and a butcher's and it was busy with people all around.

"Now there is just nothing and it is so incredibly sad. It is heartbreaking for the people in the community to see everything disappearing.

"These kinds of local services are vital.”

This comes after it was revealed last month plans have been lodged with Canterbury City Council to turn plush restaurant Kathton House's former Sturry base into two homes.

Meanwhile, old pub The Swan Inn continues to sit empty nearby. The Middle of the Road tavern on the A28 also closed in 2021 when it was snapped up by the owners of Turkish restaurant chain Aspendos.

But villager Peta Boucher is holding out hope another host for the post office will come forward ahead of its November closure date.

"It serves the people who still send parcels and the decision affects those who shop online [and want to make returns]," she added.

"We are likely to have hundreds more more people moving in with all the developments in the village and in Broad Oak - why would they come if there is nothing here?

“Always having to go into Canterbury when the roads are atrocious and bus prices are quite high doesn’t make any sense.”

Family-run business Paydens currently employs the staff manning the post office counter.

Bosses from the firm insist the move is in part a response to the introduction of new requirements on the services pharmacies need to provide.

They also stress the decision was "not taken lightly", but that their business has been squeezed by recent government funding cuts.

A spokesman for the company said: “They have been given 12 months' notice to allow them time to find alternative premises in Sturry.

“Customer behaviour has significantly changed since we first opened the post office, and unfortunately this means it is no longer financially viable for us to continue to operate the service.

“In addition the government are placing new requirements on pharmacies to provide additional services to support and complement other local healthcare providers, while also imposing significant cuts to pharmacy funding.

“This has placed all pharmacies under significant financial pressure, and we need to focus all of our efforts on supporting the growing demands placed on us.”

This comes after it was revealed Paydens' Rochester branch will also stop hosting its post office counter from November, leaving the town with no banking or postal services.

Post Office officials have not confirmed whether they are seeking alternative premises in Sturry.

"It is heartbreaking for the people in the community to see everything disappearing..."

“The operator for the site has resigned and there will not be Post Office services provided at the premises from November," a spokesman said.

“We know how important our services are to a community. Sturry Road Post Office is an alternative branch that locals and businesses will be able to use.

“It is located a short drive away and is open 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and between 8am and 8pm on Sundays.”