Residents in Halfway have been left without a post office just days before Christmas.

Hundreds have been turned away as they tried to withdraw money, post packages or buy stamps.

Services were shut down by Costcutter last weekend without any warning.

Retired civil servant Pam Swain, 75, a grandmother of three from Queenborough Road said: "This is an absolute nightmare.

"There are many elderly people who live here and rely on it to get their stamps or cash."

Professional singer Colin Morris said: "I’m surprised there was no warning, especially as it is the busiest time of the year for the Post Office.

"To the best of my knowledge, it is incumbent on the Post Office to find an alternative venue.

"It is hardly their fault if a shopkeeper decides he has had enough but if they can’t find a new one, poor old Halfway will be the poorer for it."

Retired newspaper editor Dave Jones said: "I went to the sub-post office, which is in the newsagents, to draw out some cash only to be told it was no longer a post office. No one could tell me why.

"Halfway now has no post office."

The post office was originally in what is now the Heritage micropub. When it closed in 2013 the services moved across the road.

But customers say the shop's new owners have said they can no longer cope with the long hours.

It was open from 5am to 7.30pm seven days a week, apart for late closing on Fridays at 8pm and early closing on Sundays at 2pm.

A Post Office spokesman said: “We sincerely apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of Halfway House Post Office.

"We understand and appreciate how much communities rely on our services.

"We would like to reassure customers that the decision to suspend services at any of our branches is never taken lightly.

"We take very seriously any decision to temporarily close a branch and will only do so when it is warranted.

“We are working hard to restore services for the community as quickly as possible.”

The nearest alternative post offices are at:

East Minster Post Office, 276 - 278 Minster Road, Minster, ME12 3LR

Queenborough Post Office, 5 Main Road, Queenborough, ME11 5QQ

Queensway Post Office, 124 Queensway, Sheerness, ME12 1LL

The Clock Tower Post Office, 84 High Street, Sheerness, ME12 1UB