A town centre post office has reopened following fears it would be lost for good if a new location was not found.

The service welcomed customers yesterday (December 7) at its new premises in S&J News, in Rochester High Street, after the previous operators at Payden’s chemist resigned last month.

The franchise owners confirmed it would be pulling out of running the post office in January and a petition was also set up to try and land it a new home.

At the time, councillors stood outside the building to grab signatures in attempts to save the service.

The new site at S&J News will initially be temporary with only one counter but next year it will undergo a massive refurbishment to incorporate a convenience store with Rochester Post Office.

The plan is for this to become a permanent branch however it will be subject to a public consultation.

It will have two open plan serving positions, be open an extra 16 hours a week, and include wheelchair access.

All the usual range of products and services will be available including home shopping returns, vehicle tax, bill payments, mobile top-ups and foreign currency.

Passport check and send and on-demand travel insurance are excluded.

Post Office network provision manager, Noah Rai, said: “We are delighted to have restored Post Office services in Rochester with a temporary solution until the proposed refurbishment of the premises for a permanent Post Office with longer hours.”

The temporary opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9am to 1.30pm but when it becomes a permanent these will be extended and it will be open on Sunday.