Whitstable MP Julian Brazier has welcomed negotiations between the post office and St Peter's Church about moving the town's service there.

Mr Brazier has been in talks with post office bosses about finding the service a permanent home since the Gladstone Road site closed in April.

He has now praised the St Peter's Church Rev Simon Tillotson, who has applied for permission to move the post office to the church in Sydenham Street as an interim solution.

Mr Brazier said: "The Portakabin on Gladstone Road is a gap filler but St Peter’s Church could be a better interim solution for the post office.

"While still serving as primarily a place of worship, the church may be able to hold more counters to provide a faster service, and provide space for queueing and purchasing of merchandise inside.

"Importantly, it will be a more stable interim solution than the Portakabin to buy the post office more time to get a longer term solution."

The Church Council welcomed the St Peter's Church proposal and in line with church planning law, has applied for permission through the faculty process.

There is now a 28 day period of consultation, during which time the community has the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

The post office is still free to enter into discussions with other organisations and choose the venue that they believe is most suitable.

Mr Brazier added: "I congratulate the reverend Simon Tillotson on his initiative in this imaginative idea and the Post Office on responding.

"The spotlight must however remain on the longer term solution.

"I will continue to have regular meetings with the Post Office to work towards a permanent solution."