A north-east village has seen its Post Office service returned – but bosses have admitted a long-term solution to its postal woes has still to be found.
The facility in Maud had operated out of the Key Store shop in Station Road but that ceased at the end of February.
Since then locals have been faced with a six mile round trip to New Deer to post parcels, collect pensions or purchase stamps.
Post Office chiefs have now come up with a temporary solution while they continue to figure out how to resolve the issue.
The service will, however, be limited to a so-called “hosted outreach service”, which will operate from the Old Mart Café between 10am and 2pm every Wednesday.
It started this week and Margaret Beaton, a supervisor at the café, said there had been a good response.
She said: “We have had quite a few folk in, though there hasn’t been much publicity about it.
“It will justtake a while for everyone to get used to it, but I think it has already gone down quite well because it will save folk from travelling.”
Hazel Munro has had to rely on her neighbour going to New Deer so she can send parcels or buy stamps
The 81-year-old said: “They are not looking after the villages now.
“They are building houses around the area but they are not thinking about the amenities.
“I won’t be the only one who has been missing the Post Office so I am glad it is back, even if it is just for a few hours.”
Central Buchan councillor Jim Ingram said: “Whatever service they are going to maintain is very welcome but I am hopeful they can formulate something longer term for the people in Maud.”
A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of Maud Post Office following the resignation of the postmaster and the withdrawal of premises from Post Office use.
“The branch was run by an independent retailer who closed their shop and at the same time resigned from the Post Office.
“The new service will offer the same wide range of Post Office products and services and will be open from 10am to 2pm every Wednesday.”
