A post office branch will reopen at its previous location nearly a decade after it shut.

The sub service in Chastilian Road, Dartford, closed in September 2013 after the postmaster decided he no longer wanted to run the service.

Customers expressed dismay at the time of the branch's closure, located inside Marseans Convenience Store.

Several people were left anxious about travelling long distances to other, busier post offices to access services.

But the store's previous postmaster, who had worked at the branch for 12 and a half years, said it had become difficult to make money and the popularity of direct debit payments had had a big effect.

Nearly nine years later services will finally be restored to the Dartford location on Wednesday August 10. It will operate 63 hours a week, Monday to Sunday from 9am until 6pm.

The service will be operating from the same premises under new management and will offer a range of products and services.

Sam Coe, Post Office network lead, said: “We are delighted to be restoring Post Office services to the Castilian Road of Dartford as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.

"The long opening hours will also make it very convenient to visit.”

The nearest main branch is currently in Dartford High Street and the delivery office is located in West Hill.

Smaller post office branches are closing up and down the country with one based at a former village shop set to be converted into living space after a rise in online shopping during the pandemic hit its trade.

An urgent search is also underway to find a new location for a main branch in nearby Gravesend.

Post Office workers went on strike over the Jubilee weekend in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at Crown Post Offices – the larger branches often sited on high streets – walked out on Saturday and those in administration and supply chain networks were expected to follow suit today.