A post office is set to reopen in a village, seven months after its closure.

The former service at Paydens Pharmacy will be moving into a new location in Ashford Road, Bearsted.

The branch will be transferring to the Bearsted News store a few doors down.

It will open on Thursday (October 3) next week at 1pm.

In February KentOnline reported that the post office would be shutting in Paydens, as the pharmacy wanted to expand its own business and needed the space.

The closure meant the village would lose its only service, with the next nearest being in Downswood and Newsrack in Grove Green.

Some of the former employees at Paydens were transferred to the latter site.

But the loss of Bearsted’s post office raised concerns for elderly people and those who don’t drive, who relied on the Ashford Road branch.

Others had also questioned why it was closed before another was opened.

At the time, the site was being advertised by Post Office Ltd on its website.

The company said it was “seeking applicants to set up a brand new Post Office in this area” or “to incorporate a Post Office Local into their existing or proposed business”.

The new plans to restore the branch in Bearsted received 15 responses welcoming its return.