The Post Office in Eastchurch is to reopen for the time being after weeks of closure.

Residents in the village have not been able to use the service, based in the Costcutter in the High Street, since January 27.

It has led to people living in the area being inconvenienced, according to Malcolm Newell, of nearby Surf Crescent.

The 65-year-old said: “People can’t draw their money out. They can use the machine in the shop but it costs £1.80.”

He said the charge may not seem like a lot but it is to some pensioners who are living on tight margins.

He added: “We’ve got an over-60s club in the village. We need that service. They now have to go to Minster to do any banking, which is wrong.

“We have people here that have no transport and no means of getting to Minster Post Office.

“It’s alright if you drive but there are people that don’t have any transport and some of them can’t even go on the bus.”

The reason for the closure is a contractual issue between the Post Office and the Eastchurch postmaster.

Sinnathamby and Vimala Rasiah retired from running the service in 2013, and the branch was moved over the road where it was incorporated into the Costcutter.

The Minster postmistress, Nicky Bater, will be providing part-time cover there.

The same range of services will be restored on Thursday, and from then they will be available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

This will be a temporary arrangement and the future of the site is yet to be made clear.

Julia Marwood, Post Office regional manager, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this temporary loss of service and we have been working hard to restore a service to the area as quickly as possible.

“I know the community will join me in welcoming this good news and hope that customers will continue to use the branch.”